Shreyas Iyer got the wicket of Mayank Agarwal on Day 2 of the Duleep Trophy match between India A vs India D in Ananatapur. (Image: Screengrab)
Despite not starting well with the bat, Shreyas Iyer redeemed himself with the ball as the part-timer delivered a crucial breakthrough for India D.
Shreyas Iyer faced flak from fans on social media after getting out for a 7-ball duck on the second day of the Duleep Trophy 2024 round 2. However, the India D batter redeemed himself in the next innings as he decided to roll over his arms against India A.
The Mayank Agarwal-led side dominantly began its second innings, racing to 115 runs in just 28 overs. Coming into the attack in the 29th over, Iyer struck gold with his very first delivery. He tempted Agarwal into driving a flighted delivery but the India A skipper ended up holing out straight to his India D counterpart. The latter’s sharp reflexes helped him pouch the ball safely in his follow-through.
Earlier, Iyer stylishly entered the field during India D’s batting innings wearing sunglasses on Day 2 but was dismissed for a 7-ball duck. Khaleel Ahmed Khaleel got rid of him with a fuller delivery as Aaqib Khan grabbed an easy catch at mid-on.
At stumps, India A are at 115/1 and lead by 222 runs with nine wickets in hand, after day two’s play yielded 13 wickets overall. In the morning, India A’s inning ended at 289, with Shams Mulani’s rearguard act ending at 89.
In reply, pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Aaqib Khan took three scalps each to bowl out India D for 183, as India A took a 107-run first-innings lead. Left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal waged a lone battle for India D through his knock of 92, while Harshit Rana chipped in with a useful 31.
Armed with a 107-run lead, Agarwal, the India A skipper, hit eight boundaries in his 56 off 87 balls, while Pratham hit six fours to be 59 not out off 82 balls. India A looked set to end the day without any more damage until Mayank chipped off the toe-end of his bat against a flighted delivery from Shreyas, who dived to his right and took a sharp, low catch at the stroke of stumps on an eventful day two.
Brief Scores: India A 290/10 (Shams Mulani 89, Tanush Kotian 53; Harshit Rana 4-51) and 115/1 (Pratham Singh 59*, Mayank Agarwal 56; Shreyas Iyer 1-0) lead India D 183/10 (Devdutt Padikkal 92; Khaleel Ahmed 3-39) by 222 runs
