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Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Tilak, Pratham centuries leave India D with mountain to climb

Tilak Varma flicks the ball away during his innings of 46 PTI

India D 183 and 62 for 1 (Bhui 44*) trail India A 290 and 380 for 3 dec (Tilak 111*, Pratham 122, Saurabh 2-110) by 426 runs

Tilak Varma and Pratham Singh scored centuries each to stretch India A's lead and further put them in a strong position against India D on Saturday. From the overnight score of 115 for 1, when they had a lead of 222 runs, India A posted 380 for 3 on the third day before declaring in the final session to set up a target of 488. India D were 62 for 1 at stumps and were 426 runs behind India A.

Resuming from 59, Pratham brought up his second first-class hundred off 149 deliveries and stitched a 104-run stand with Tilak for the second wicket. Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar dismissed Pratham for 122 in the 60th over. But Tilak played the long innings and put India A in control. Only one wicket fell in the morning session as India A piled on 145 runs to take lunch at 260 for 2.

However, India D struck immediately after lunch as Riyan Parag fell to Saurabh for 20. India D's bowlers were then made to toil as Shashwat Rawat joined Tilak. The left-handed duo shared an unbroken stand of 116 runs for the fourth wicket. In the second session, Tilak converted his half-century. He hit a total of nine fours in his 193-ball stay, out of which six were scored between the cover and the long-off region.

Rawat ticked along briskly, notching up seven fours to remain unbeaten on 64 off 88 balls before India D declared in the final session. In contrast to Tilak, Rawat targeted the leg side, hitting three fours towards long-on and one through midwicket.

In the fourth innings, Khaleel Ahmed struck in his second over to opener Atharva Taide for a duck. However, that did not slow India D down as Ricky Bhui, at No.3, scored an unbeaten 44 off 52 at stumps. Bhui slammed eight fours and a six while his partner Yash Dubey was unbeaten on 15 off 60. The pair added 61 runs for the unbroken second-wicket partnership.

India D 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st2A TaideY Dubey
2nd100RK BhuiY Dubey
3rd3RK BhuiD Padikkal
4th53SS IyerRK Bhui
5th62SV SamsonRK Bhui
6th17RK BhuiSS Jain
7th19Saurabh KumarRK Bhui
8th23Saurabh KumarHarshit Rana
9th21Arshdeep SinghHarshit Rana
10th1Arshdeep SinghV Kaverappa