Duleep Trophy: Bhui 10 runs short of ton, Iyer hits 50

Ricky Bhui was 10 runs short of his second successive hundred as India D’s overall lead swelled to 311 against India B, when stumps were drawn on the third day of the Duleep Trophy encounter here on Saturday.

Shreyas Iyer also showed some form with a purposeful half-century for India D, scoring 50 off 40 balls.

At stumps, India D scored 244 for 5 in their second innings with Bhui unbeaten on 90 off just 87 balls with 10 fours and three sixes to his credit.

Earlier, India B were all out for 282 in their first innings in reply to ‘D’s first essay of 349. Starting the day at 210 for 6, Washington Sundar (87) ran out of partners as none of the tail-enders stayed long enough to give him an opportunity to complete his hundred. Washington’s 140-ball knock was studded with seven fours and a six.

Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar, who has been on the fringes for a long time finished with 5 for 73 while Arshdeep Singh couldn’t add to his overnight tally of three victims.

In the second innings, India D had quickly slumped to 18 for 3 by the start of the fourth over but Iyer and Bhui counter-attacked with great disdain, adding 75 runs in just 10.3 overs.

Parag, Rawat shine for India A

Riyan Parag and Shaswat Rawat struck fluent half-centuries to help India A tighten their grip over India C on the penultimate day of the four-day Duleep Trophy final round match. Parag made 73 with the help of five fours and one six, while Rawat hit 53 laced with four boundaries and one hit over the fence to take India A to 270 for six in their second innings.