New Delhi: Ajinkya Rahane’s (144 n o, 156b, 9×4, 3×6) patience trumped Shreyas Iyer’s (148, 114b, 11×4, 8×6) flamboyance in a battle of captains, leading India C to the Deodhar Trophy title triumph with a 29-run win over India B here Saturday.
Rahane dropped anchor to score an unbeaten century while the young Ishan Kishan (114, 87b, 11×4, 6×6) also smashed his way to a scintillating ton during their opening stand of 210, which took the C team’s score to 352 for seven in 50 overs.
In reply, Shreyas blasted a ton, but India B finished on 323 in 46.1 overs. Iyer’s hundred was easily the best of the three tons but lack of support from the other end hurt the B team captain as he fought a lonely battle for the better part before getting dismissed by leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (1/72) while trying to slog sweep.
The most significant stand was the 116-run partnership for the second wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad (60). India B were cruising along at one stage with Iyer and Ankush Bains (37) adding 65 runs for the fifth wicket.
Once Bains was sent back by left-arm spinner Pappu Roy (3/75), things started to get difficult. However, Iyer, continued to attack the C team bowlers during his 46-run seventh wicket stand with Deepak Chahar (21).
Opting to bat, Rahane shrugged off his poor form and focused on building his innings as he let Kishan take the opposition attack to the cleaners. Save Jaydev Unadkat (3/52), who used variations to good effect on a batting track, the other B team bowlers leaked a lot of runs.
Brief scores: India C 352/7 (Ajinkya Rahane 144 no, Ishan Kishan 114; Jaydev Unadkat 3/52) bt India B 323 (Shreyas Iyer 148; Pappu Roy 3/75) by 29 runs.