Axar Patel brought India D back into the game with a counter-attacking stand of 86 after a disastrous start before picking up two timely wickets against India C for an outstanding effort on the first day of the Duleep Trophy contest on Thursday. India C pacers Anshul Kamboj (2/47) and Vijaykumar Vyshak (3/19) made use of a helper delivery to tear through India D’s batting, leaving them in a desperate state at 48 for six.
Batting at number seven, Axar started cautiously before going on a rampage to make 86 off 118 balls, taking India D to 164 all out in 48.3 overs. In reply, India C were 91 for four at stumps on the first day, trailing India D by 73 runs. After paceman Harshit Rana’s double strike in the first 10 overs, Axar got rid of Aryan Juyal (12) and Rajat Patidar (13) to make a big impact on the game.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Abhishek Porel (32 batting) was impressive for India C and was battling alongside Baba Indrajith (14 batting) late in the game. Axar dominated the India C bowlers earlier in the day after most of the batsmen fell to reckless strokeplay. The left-hander, who has impressed with the bat in both red-ball and white-ball games for India in the recent past, hit half-a-dozen sixes. He particularly enjoyed batting against fellow left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, bludgeoning him for three maximums. (ENG vs AUS: Big blow for England: Phil Salt replaces Jos Buttler as England captain for T20Is)
Axar used the slog sweep to release the pressure early in his innings before dispatching Suthar for consecutive sixes in the 39th over. Some of the shot selections by other batsmen left a lot to be desired. While captain Shreyas Iyer (9) fell to a beauty from Vyshak, opener Atharva Taide (4) and Devdutt Padikkal (0) tried to force the pace too early in their innings. Taide attempted a pull on the fifth ball of the day and was caught at fine leg while Padikkal was caught at cover by opposition captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, falling to a regulation ball from Vyshak.
Brief results: India D: 164 all out in 48.3 overs (Axar Patel 86; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3/19). India C: 91 for four in 33 overs (Abhishek Porel 32 batting; Axar Patel 2/16).
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