Nair ton consolation for India Green in big defeat
Legspinner Karn Sharma finishes with his maiden ten-for as India Red win by 170 runs
ESPNcricinfo staff
10-Sep-2017
India Red 323 (Panchal 105, Sudip 52, Vijay 3-46) and 307 for 2 declared (Panchal 133, Karthik 100*) beat India Green (Prashant Chopra 65, Gowtham 5-46, Karn 4-39) and 303 (Nair 120, Karn 6-94, Kaul 4-46) by 170 runs
Karun Nair's century delayed the inevitable for India Green as they lost to India Red by 170 runs in the Duleep Trophy opener at Lucknow's Ekana International Stadium on Sunday.
India Green, in pursuit of 474, were bowled out for 303 in the final session on the fourth day, with Karn Sharma, the legspinner, taking six wickets and finishing with his first-ever ten-for. Siddarth Kaul, the fast bowler, had four wickets, including that of top-scorer Nair, also the captain, for 120.
Resuming on 98 for 2, India Green lost R Samarth early, after he'd added just 13 to his overnight 46. Ankit Bawne then became the first of Kaul's four wickets when he was bowled for 17 shortly before the first session ended.
Nair, meanwhile, battled on and forged a 49-run stand with Parthiv Patel, before Karn struck again. Parthiv, who became the 48th Indian to go past 10,000 first-class runs in the first innings, was caught by Rahul Singh for 26. At that stage, India Green were reduced to 213 for 5.
Nair, who during the course of the day's play was named captain of the India A team to play two four-day fixtures against New Zealand A, brought up his 10th first-class century, but his dismissal to break a 62-run stand with Mayank Dagar, who made 45, hastened India Green's exit. Their inability to build on two strong partnerships during the course of the day eventually proved costly.
India Red take on the Suresh Raina-led India Blue in the second fixture at Green Park in Kanpur on September 13.