Indrajith double-ton headlines batting-friendly day
A record last-wicket stand of 178 helped India Red to a strong finish to their first innings, but India Blue's Hanuma Vihari and Suresh Raina helped pull the advantage back at stumps
ESPNcricinfo staff
14-Sep-2017
Stumps India Blue 216 for 3 (Vihari 86*, Raina 52) trail India Red 383 (Indrajith 200, Rajpoot 3-56) by 167 runs
B Indrajith struck his maiden first-class double-hundred as he added 92 runs to the overnight score alongside No. 11 Vijay Gohil (34*) to help India Red post a competitive 383 in the first innings. The pair's partnership of 178 was also the highest tenth-wicket partnership in the tournament's history.
Bowlers from either side could manage only four wickets all day. Half-centuries from Hanuma Vihari and Suresh Raina reduced India Blue's deficit to 167 runs at stumps.
The day started with India Red on 291 for 9. Indrajith overtook his previous best of 151 and his 280-ball knock consisted of 20 fours and six sixes while the No. 11 Gohil hung around to add 12 runs to his overnight score. Indrajith was out in the 109th over of the innings after offspinner Bhargav Bhatt had him caught by Manoj Tiwary.
In reply, India Blue openers Samit Gohel (32) and Vihari added 47 for the first wicket before the former edged one to the keeper. Basil Thampi removed Manoj Tiwary (20) soon after. India Blue captain Raina then scored his 43rd first-class fifty as he stabilise the innings alongside Vihari. Their 73-run third-wicket stand was broken by Gohil. Deepak Hooda (23*) and Vihari saw the day off with an unbroken stand of 57.