KL Rahul’s gumption, which helped him score a patient fifty, found no resonance among his colleagues as India B quicks led by Yash Dayal pushed India A to a 76-run defeat on the fourth and final day of their Duleep Trophy game here on Sunday.
Chasing 275, India A were bundled out for 198 in their second innings as left-arm seamer Dayal (3/50), with able support from his colleagues Mukesh Kumar (2/50) and Navdeep Saini (2/41), led the India B attack. Rahul top-scored for India A with 57.
In the first session of the day, India B were all out for 184 in their second essay to muster a handy overall lead of 274.
The India A chase began on a shaky note as Mayank Agarwal departed in the second over itself, wafting Dayal away from his body to Nitish Kumar Reddy, who took a wonderful diving catch atsecond slip.
That brought Riyan Parag to the middle and the right-hander followed the path set on Saturday by Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan. Riyan took on the bowlers and pacer Mukesh bore the brunt of his aggression.
Riyan added 48 for the second with a subdued Shubman Gill, who was dropped at slips off Mukesh on 16. Soon Riyan’s massive hoick off Dayal took an edge off his bat en route to keeper Pant. Gill (21) fell soon after, again off Saini.
Brief scores: India B 321 & 184 (Akash Deep 5/56). India A 231 & 198 (KL Rahul 57; Yash Dayal 3/50). India B won by 76 runs.
Written with PTI inputs
