Kolkata: India Red piled a huge first innings total of 383 runs and also returned with the ball to take three wickets and edge out ahead of the Suresh Raina led India Blue in Kanpur on Thursday.
Resuming their innings at 291/9, Baba Indrajith, the overnight batsman added 92 runs more with Vijay Gohil (34) to take India Red to 383 runs.
Indrajith, who was batting on 120 added more 80 runs to his knock to score his maiden double hundred which came of 280 deliveries and included 20 fours and six sixes.
He found a perfect partner in Gohil, who did not throw his wicket away at the other end and ensured that India Red cross the 350-run mark. The duo put on a 178-run partnership in total, which is the highest tenth wicket partnership in the history of the tournament.
Right-arm pace bowler Ankit Rajpoot took three wickets conceding 56 runs while Jaydev Unadkat and Manoj Tiwary scalped two apiece.
In reply, India Blue batsmen Hanuma Vihari and skipper Raina notched up fifties to fight back and take the team to 216/3 at the end of the day’s play.
Opener Samit Gohel (32) added 47 runs for the first wicket with Vihari before being caught behind. Fiery pacer Basil Thampi then got the better of Manoj Tiwary as he sent him back for just 20.
Raina, who is looking to make a comeback to the national team scored his 43rd first class fifty to provide support and stability to the India Blue innings with Vihari holding fort at the other end.
The duo put together 73 runs for the third wicket before Raina was dismissed. Right-hander Deepak Hooda (23*) ensured that there were no more hiccups in India Blues’ pursuit of 383 through a 57-run stand with Vihari, who stayed unbeaten on 86 at the close of play. India Blue still need 167 more runs to overhaul the India Red’s first innings effort.
Brief scores-
India Blue 216/3 (Hanuma Vihari 86 n.o, Suresh Raina 52; Vijay Gohil 1/50) trail
India Red 383 all out (B Indrajith 200, PK Panchal 36; Ankit Rajpoot 3/56) by 167 runs.