Spectacular tons from India A batters Pratham Singh and Tilak Varma highlighted Day 3 of their team's clash against India D in the Duleep Trophy 2024 in Anantapur. Stepping in for Shubman Gill, Railways batter Pratham scored a scintillating 189-ball 122, while Hyderabad batter Tilak made 111 from 193 deliveries as India A handed India D a mountain of 488 runs in the second round of the tournament.
Notably, Ricky Bhui came with a free-scoring intent, making an unbeaten 44 from 52 balls despite Atharva Taide was dismissed for a duck. Due to Bhui's fiery outing and Yash Dubey's careful 15 from 60, India D went to stumps 62/1, still needing 426 more to win.
Pratham, Tilak put load of runs for India A
Resuming the innings on 59, Pratham kept taking the cautious approach. He got to his hundred in the first session in 149 balls. While he was looking to add more, he was dismissed by Saurabh Kumar in the 60th over, to mark the end of a fabulous knock.
Tilak took the baton and went past his century in 177 deliveries in a knock that featured nine fours. Pratham and Tilak partnered for a 104-run second wicket stand. Tilak remained unbeaten with Shashwat Rawat, who made a quick 64 from 88 deliveries.
Ricky Bhui shows promise but road still long
While Ricky Bhui has shown the promise until now in the game, the road is still a very long way for India D. They need 426 runs more to win and have nine wickets in hand. But the weapons Khaleel Ahmed, Prasidh Krishna and Shams Mulani possess, it would be a tough task for India D to come close to this one.
In the first innings, India D made 183 with Devdutt Paddikkal the only saving light for his 92-run knock.
India A squad:
Pratham Singh, Mayank Agarwal (c), Tilak Varma, Riyan Parag, Shashwat Rawat, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, Aaqib Khan
India D squad:
Atharva Taide, Yash Dubey, Shreyas Iyer (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (wk), Ricky Bhui, Saransh Jain, Saurabh Kumar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa
