With selection pressure out of the way, the Deodhar Trophy final here on Saturday was about proving a point — as much by those who have been ignored as the ones to receive a national call-up. In the process, the game saw 300-plus totals from either side with India C winning by 29 runs.
Chasing 353, India B managed only 323 in 46.1 overs with Shreyas Iyer standing tall amidst ruins. He mixed acumen with aggression for a fighting 148 (114 balls), but the rest barring Ruturaj Gaikwad (60) failed to provide enough support.
Shreyas was dropped thrice but still seemed to be in a zone of his own, unconcerned with the collapse around him and almost dragged his team to victory before top-edging Rahul Chahar to Pappu Roy at short fine-leg. His innings had 11 fours and eight sixes, most of them in the V in front, with hardly a wrong shot.
But for a large part of the day it was an Ajinkya Rahane-Ishan Kishan show, with the captain remaining unbeaten. Both scored centuries, adding 210 for the opening wicket, in contrasting fashion. Kishan started sedately — his first six runs came off 31 deliveries, leaving any ball outside off and defending the ones coming in — but once the spinners came into play, he unleashed himself.
Shahbaz Nadeem and Manoj Tiwary were the worst hit as Kishan leapfrogged his senior partner, first to a half century and then the ton. Kishan came down the pitch for sixes — those off Tiwary and Nadeem landing behind the sightscreens — cut and drove for boundaries either side of the square and ruthlessly punished loose balls.
Calmness personified
At the other end, Rahane was calmness personified as he rotated the strike and ran hard singles. While Kishan’s shots were a display of power, Rahane’s were all about timing and placement. Kishan’s 114 came off just 86 balls and included six sixes and 11 fours. Rahane took 157 for his unbeaten 144. Kishan received a life on 32, rapped on the pads by Nadeem before the umpires ruled it a no-ball, Rahane’s innings was chance-less.
What was common was the ease with which both dealt with India B’s bowlers. Jaydev Unadkat was the only one to escape the assault. He also finally broke the partnership, dismissing Kishan leg-before.
Suryakumar Yadav hit a flurry of sixes down leg-side for an 18-ball 39 cameo and his dismissal triggered a mini-collapse with Unadkat picking up two in the final over but by then, the damage had been done.
The scores:
India C 352 for seven in 50 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 144 not out, Ishan Kishan 114, Suryakumar Yadav 39, Shubman Gill 26, Jaydev Unadkat three for 52) bt India B 323 in 46.1 overs (Shreyas Iyer 148, Ruturaj Gaikwad 60, Ankush Bains 37, Pappu Roy three for 75) by 29 runs.
