India Red duly wrapped up victory on the fourth day of their Duleep Trophy final played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, defeating India Green by an innings and 38 runs.
It was the second time in three years that the Red side have won the domestic season curtain-raiser, and means that they are now level with India Blue with two wins apiece since the competition was changed to its current format.
Resuming their first innings on 345 – 6, India Red soon lost Aditya Sarwate, who was stumped off the bowling of Dharmendrasinh Jadeja for 38. Akshay Wakhare quickly followed him back to the pavilion, but Jaydev Unadkat and Avesh Khan advanced the score, before both Khan and Sandeep Warrier fell in quick succession. Unadkat though was unbeaten on 32, as the Reds closed their innings on 388, a lead of 151.
The Green’s started reasonably well in their second innings, with captain Faiz Fazai and Akshath Reddy putting on 29 for the first wicket. However, Fazai was caught by Ishan Kishan off the bowling of Unadkat, and then soon afterwards, the Greens lost Dhruv Shorey, caught behind, Avesh Khan the bowler this time. Reddy and Siddesh Lad then put on 25 for the third wicket, before Reddy was out for 33, bowled by Khan.
Akshdeep Nath gave Khan a third wicket, at which point the off-breaks of Akshay Wakhare took over the match. First the 33 year old accounted for Akshay Wadkar, caught by Karun Nair for 7. Then, in his next over, he picked up the wicket of Jadeja. Tanveer Ul-Haq became his third victim, caught by Ankit Kalsi, and then, next ball, he bowled Lad, who had provided the stiffest resistance, scoring 42, including four sixes.
Ankit Rajpoot was stumped, giving Wakhare wicket number five, and, with Mayank Markande unable to bat because of injury, that meant that, at 119 – 9, the Greens were effectively all out. Their second innings had not even lasted 40 overs.
Wakhare finished with figures of 5 for 13 in less than six overs, whilst his team mate Avesh Khan returned 3 for 38.
Man of the match though went to Indian Red opener Abhimanyu Easwaran for his 153 in their one innings.
