B. Aparajith and Sanjay Ramaswamy continued from where they let off in the first match against India Green (210-run unbeaten partnership) as the duo set up a platform for India Red with a 116-run partnership for the second wicket on the opening day of the second Duleep Trophy match against India Blue on Thursday.
Later, Siddhesh Lad built on the platform as he remained unbeaten on 83 to take Red to 256 for four at stumps. Electing to bat, Red skipper Abhinav Mukund was dismissed off the third ball of the day, trapped leg-before by left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat.
Docile wicket
Sanjay and Aparajith then came together and on an easy, docile wicket which had little help for the pacers. Runs kept flowing through boundaries especially for Sanjay, as he drove through the line with ease on the off-side.
Out of his first 36 runs, there were eight boundaries. Sanjay eventually got to his fifty off just 81 balls that included 10 hits to the fence.
Post the first half-hour break, Sanjay (on 53) came down the track to Kumar to clear mid-off but was dropped by skipper Faiz Fazal.
Aparajith was also slowly inching his way to yet another half-century before he uppishly drove one straight to cover fielder Fazal off Kumar when on 48.
Soon, off-spinner Akshay Wakhare came around the wicket to dismiss Sanjay for 72, this time Ricky Bhui taking a brilliant catch, diving to his right at first slip.
Lad began by hitting Wakhare for two sixes over long-on and was the aggressor in the partnership with Ashutosh Singh for the fourth wicket, Ashutosh had to retire hurt after pulling his hamstring.
The scores: India Red: Sanjay Ramaswamy c Bhui b Wakhare 72, Abhinav Mukund lbw Unadkat 0, B. Aparajith c Fazil b Kumar 48, Ashutosh Singh (retd. hurt) 34, Siddhesh Lad (batting) 83, Akshay Wadkar b Ayyappa 15; Extras (nb-3, w-1): 4; Total (for four wickets in 89.5 overs): 256.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-117, 3-123, 4-256.
India Blue bowling: Unadkat 11-4-50-1, Kulkarni 13-2-30-0, Ayyappa 14.5-4-42-1, Kumar 31-7-68-1, Wakhare 20-3-66-1 .
