Samson’s 89* drives India D after Iyer gets another duck

In the Duleep Trophy match in Anantapur, India D defeated India B thanks to half-centuries from Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, KS Bharat, and Ricky Bhui. Shreyas Iyer claimed his second duck in as many matches.

India B chose to bowl first, and their bowlers had an early task ahead of them as Padikkal and Bharat put up a 105-run partnership for the first wicket in 31.1 overs. Padikkal added a third during a knock in which he smashed eight fours, after scoring fifty in the first two Duleep Trophy games. Moving up in rank, Bharat too had a big impact, hitting 52 off 105 balls with nine fours.

Sanju Samson led India D to 306 for 5 in 77 overs at stumps, remaining undefeated at 89 off 83 balls. On 26 he was joined in company by Saransh Jain.

Edging Navdeep Saini to the wicketkeeper, Padikkal was the first to leave. Soon later, Bharat did the same, catching Mukesh Kumar off guard. After a 53-run partnership for the third wicket between Nishant Sindhu and Ricky Bhui, Rahul Chahar struck twice in as many balls, putting India D in trouble.

In the 47th over, Sindhu was first caught by the legspinner. Then, he dismissed Iyer for a five-ball duck in his very next over, bringing India D to 175 for 4.

Bhui, who had just scored 113 in the fourth innings of the previous game, maintained his excellent form to score the third half-century of the innings. However, with Chahar taking his third wicket of the day, he too fell in the fifties, just like his teammates. After hitting nine fours in 56 off 87 balls, Bhui was out.

But Samson made sure to continue. In his rapid half-century, he hit ten fours and three sixes, dominating an uninterrupted 90-run partnership off 109 balls with Jain.

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Chahar was the most productive bowler for India B, taking three wickets for sixty runs in thirteen overs, while Saini and Mukesh both claimed one wicket.