Anantapur: Prasidh Krishna and Tanush Kotian took three wickets each to help India A beat India C by 132 runs and win the Duleep Trophy title with 12 points.
Three teams remained in the race for the title till the final day. India B lost to India D, leaving India A and C to fight for victory. Mayank Agarwal declared the innings early in the morning session to give his bowlers enough time to take 10 wickets and they did it effectively.
India C's chase of 350 got off to a poor start with the loss of Vijaykumar Vaishakh early, who surprisingly opened with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan put on a crucial partnership for the second wicket before Aqib Khan dismissed Gaikwad.
India C's middle order failed to support Sudarshan, who fought valiantly to score an unbeaten 111, while six batsmen, including Rajat Patidar and Abhishek Porel (who made 82 in the first innings), were dismissed for single figures. Kotian's offspin demolished the middle order, while Prasidh took the crucial wicket of Sudarshan and bundled out the tailenders in the dying moments of the match.
India C tried hard to force a draw, which would have given them the trophy by 1 point, but Prasidh's timely wickets ensured a win for India A.
Brief scores: India A 297 and 2868 declared. (Riyan Parag 73, Shashwat Rawat 53; Anshul Kamboj 252) beat India C 234 and 217 (Sai Sudarshan 111, Ruturaj Gaikwad 44; Tanush Kotian 347, Prasidh Krishna 350, Aqib Khan 226) by 132 runs.
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– / Written By Top News Bulletin
Image Credit: KhasKhabar.