Duleep Trophy Showdown: Easwaran Shines with Century, Suryakumar Falls Short

On the second day of their final Duleep Trophy round robin league match here on Friday, India D held control over India B. The uber-talented Sanju Samson reached his 11th first-class hundred before Arshdeep Singh displayed his skills with the semi-new ball.

Despite captain Abhimanyu Easwaran’s (116) second hundred of the tournament, India B was not exactly in the clear at 210 for 6 when stumps were drawn. In contrast, India D reached 349 in 87.3 overs in their opening innings. In first-class cricket, this is Easwaran’s 25th century.

The finest bowler for the opposition, Arshdeep, dismissed India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav after he could only muster five runs after missing the first two rounds due to a finger injury.

With 12 boundaries and three massive sixes in his 106 off 101 deliveries, Samson—who blasted his way to an undefeated 89 on the first day—scored the necessary 11 runs.

India D didn’t last long despite Samson’s century; after starting the day at 306 for 5, they lost five wickets and added 43 runs, with Delhi quick Navdeep Saini doing the most of the damage.

Not included in any of the squads at first, Saini (5/74 in 18.3 overs) is demonstrating a newfound sense of purpose by securing his sixth five-for in first-class cricket and his first in a long time. Saini appeared to have found his way back into the selectors’ minds with 11 scalps in his first three outings.

Easwaran stood out among the others during India B’s 170-ball batting performance, which featured 13 fours and a six.

Critics have pointed out that Easwaran, 29, doesn’t score on major domestic days when the bowling attack is a bit top notch, but he will keep the five wise men intrigued about him after scoring 157 not out in the previous game.

At one point, India B was sitting pretty at 88 for 2, but Arshdeep returned for his second delivery and, using an SG Test ball that was a little older, found Musheer Khan (5) squarely in front.

The main attraction for everyone who attended the event was Suryakumar, but he was out after just 15 balls by Aditya Thakare after Arshdeep bowled him.

To make matters worse, Arshdeep also induced an edge off all-rounder Nitish Reddy (0) to Samson with India B tottering at 100 for 5.

But Easwaran kept his composure in presence of Washington Sundar (39 batting) as the duo added 105 runs for the sixth wicket.

The India B skipper was out at the fag end of the day, when Thakare (2/33) got him caught behind the stumps.

Brief Scores: India D 1st Innings: 349 in 87.3 overs (Sanju Samson 106, Navdeep Saini 5/74). India B 1st Innings 210/6 in 56 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 116, Washington Sundar 39 batting, Arshdeep Singh 3/30).

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