Bangalore: Out of favour batsman Karun Nair missed out on a century by one run but Himachal Pradesh’s Ankit Kalsi made 106 before India Red were all out for 285 in their Duleep Trophy match against India Blue here Saturday.
India Red fought back to reduce their opponents to 74 for 3 in 24 overs at stumps, getting the key wickets of the highly-rated Shubman Gill (9) and in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad (37).
Earlier, resuming at overnight 163 for 2, Nair’s hopes of scoring a hundred were dashed when he was stumped by Snell Patel off left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar.
After losing Harpreet Singh Bhatia (2), Kalsi found an able partner in the talented Ishan Kishan (50), and the duo built a crucial partnership.
While the left-handed Kalsi continued with his stodgy ways, fellow southpaw Kishan was more enterprising and hit some attractive shots. His exit, however, put paid to the team’s hopes of putting up a 300-plus total.
Services medium-pacer Diwesh Gurdev Pathania got Kishan to edge an outswinger to Ricky Bhui at slip and bowled Axar Patel in the next ball. Jaydev Unadkat denied Pathania a hat-trick with a forward defence.
Kalsi, meanwhile, moved into the 90s and appeared to be in danger of missing out on a ton, as Red slipped to 276 for 9. He, though, managed to reach the century, off 339 balls, with an inside edge off Pathania.
Kalsi’s marathon knock ended when Kerala all-rounder Jalaj Saxena had him caught by Gaikwad.
Pathania was the best bowler for Blue with a haul of 4 for 55 from 32 overs, while Saxena took 3 for 57 and Aniket Chaudhary captured two wickets.
When India Blue batted, opener Snell Patel fell in the fifth over to Unadkat for a duck. Skipper Gill hit two boundaries but was trapped leg-before by Unadkat.
Gaikwad provided some solidity at the top but his knock of 37 ended when pacer Avesh Khan had him caught by Karun Nair. Ankit Bawne (15 batting) and Anmolpreet Singh (6 batting) ensured that Blue did not suffer further losses.
Brief scores (at end of day 2): India Red 285 all out in 124 overs (Ankit Kalsi 105, Karun Nair 99, Ishan Kishan 50, Diwesh Pathania 4/55, Jalaj Saxena 3/57, Aniket Choudhary 2/69) vs India Blue 74/3 in 24 overs (R Gaikwad 37, J Undakat 2/18)