Ricky Bhui delayed the inevitable with a stubborn century, but spinners Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian eventually brought India D to their knees as India A walked away with a 186-run win on the final day of their Duleep Trophy game.
Bhui, resuming on overnight 44, hit 113 off 195 balls, hitting 14 boundaries and three maximums. But India D were eventually bundled out for 301 in pursuit of an imposing 488-run target.
The victory enabled India A to stay in contention for the title with six points. But they will have to get a favourable result against table-toppers India C (on nine points) in their next match here beginning on Thursday.
India D, out of the title race after two straight defeats, will be up against second-placed India B, who have seven points.
On a pitch that gave a fair amount of assistance to spinners, the India D batters needed to show tremendous application to hang around. But except Bhui, none really showed the stomach for a fight.
Bhui’s second-wicket stand with Yash Dubey (37) was worth 100 runs before the latter was run out. And in his next over, left-arm spinner Mulani castled Devdutt Padikkal to push India D to 105/3.
They managed to stitch two useful stands for two subsequent wickets — a 53-run partnership between Bhui and captain Shreyas Iyer (41) and 62 between Bhui and Sanju Samson (40). The two partnerships, though, were more about aggression and the approach was fraught with danger on a pitch where spinners called the shots.
Both Shreyas and Samson were dismissed by Mulani, who came up with vital and timely scalps following his crucial 89 when India A were under huge pressure in the first innings. Mulani’s all-round performance also earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.
In the other game, pacer Anshul Kamboj finished with an eight-wicket haul as India C went ahead in the standings based on their first-innings lead against India B.
Resuming Day IV on 309/7, India B were dismissed for 332 with Kamboj cleaning up the tail to add to his overnight five wickets. India B skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran remained unbeaten on 157.
India reached 128/4 in their second innings before players to decided to shake hands.
Summarised scores:
l India A 290 and 380/3 decl. India D 183 & 301 (Ricky Bhui 113; Shams Mulani 3/117, Tanush Kotian 4/73). India A won by 186 runs.
l India C 525 & 128/4 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 62; Rahul Chahar 2/8) India B 332 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 157 n.o.; Anshul Kamboj 8/69). Match drawn.