Manav Suthar’s late burst of wickets proved crucial for India C in their Duleep Trophy first-round match against India D. The left-arm orthodox spinner claimed a five-wicket haul, turning the tide of the match at the Rural Development Trust Stadium in Anantapur on Friday.
After India D had established a strong position at 186 for four, Suthar orchestrated a collapse, taking four wickets in his final five overs. His most significant scalp was Ricky Bhui, who was trapped leg-before just three deliveries after hitting a six over long-on. India D finished the day on 206 for eight, with a commanding lead of 202 runs.
Earlier in the day, India D had been propelled by fifties from Shreyas Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal. Iyer, who batted aggressively, set the tone with a quickfire 54 runs off just 44 balls, including nine boundaries and a six. Padikkal, meanwhile, played a more measured innings, scoring 56 runs off 70 balls, peppering the boundary with eight fours.
The pair’s partnership, worth 73 runs, threatened to take India D away from India C, but Suthar’s late intervention brought India C back into the contest. The southpaw also dismissed Padikkal for a soft dismissal at slip, opening the door for India C to make a comeback.
In the morning session, Baba Indrajith had played a pivotal role in rescuing India C from a precarious position. He single-handedly took on the India D seamers, scoring a resilient 72 runs off 149 balls, ultimately steering his team into a slender four-run lead. However, he fell towards the end of the session, leaving India C struggling at 109 for eight.
India C will now need to bat with great determination and resilience on the third day to prevent India D from securing a comfortable victory in the first round of the Duleep Trophy.
