India A registered a convincing 186-run win against India D in Match 3 of the Duleep Trophy 2024 at Anantapur. The match featured notable performances from both teams, but India A’s determination and skill, particularly in key moments with both bat and ball, led them to victory. Shams Mulani’s outstanding all-around effort, including significant contributions in both innings, earned him the Player of the Match honor.

India A’s first innings: Early struggles and recovery

India A’s first innings began on a shaky note, as their top order crumbled under pressure from India D’s bowling attack. Mayank Agarwal (7), Pratham Singh (7) and Tilak Varma (10) were all dismissed cheaply, leaving India A in a precarious position. Vidwath Kaverappa and Arshdeep Singh were instrumental in applying early pressure. However, Riyan Parag’s aggressive knock of 37 from 29 balls and Mulani’s composed 89 off 187 balls steadied the innings. Mulani’s resilience, along with Tanush Kotian’s counter-attacking 53 from 80 deliveries, helped India A recover to post a respectable total of 290. Harshit Rana was the standout bowler for India D, claiming 4 wickets for 51 runs.

India D struggles in reply

India D’s response with the bat was equally troubled, with Khaleel Ahmed and Aaqib Khan dismantling their top order. Early dismissals of Atharva Taide (4), Shreyas Iyer (0) and Yash Dubey (14) left India D in deep trouble. Devdutt Padikkal tried to stabilize the innings with a well-fought 92, but he received little support from the rest of the lineup. As wickets continued to fall, India D was bowled out for 183, trailing by 107 runs. Khaleel and Aaqib were the architects of India D’s downfall, each taking 3 wickets to leave them reeling.

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India A’s second innings: Dominant batting performance

In their second innings, India A delivered a commanding batting display, setting a daunting target of 488 for India D. Pratham led the charge with a brilliant knock of 122, while Tilak anchored the innings with an unbeaten 111. Shashwat Rawat contributed a solid 64 not out, and Mayank added 56 at the top of the order. India A declared their innings at 380/3, with Saurabh Kumar taking two wickets for India D. Nevertheless, India D’s bowlers struggled to contain the relentless batting of India A, leaving them with a mammoth task in their chase.

Shams Mulani shines with both bat and ball

Chasing a target of 488, India D faced an uphill battle. Ricky Bhui provided some resistance with a gritty 113 off 195 balls, while Iyer (41) and Sanju Samson (40) contributed valuable runs. Nonetheless, India A’s bowling attack, led by Kotian (4/73) and Mulani (3/117), proved too strong. Mulani’s all-round brilliance was again on display, as his critical wickets in the second innings sealed India D’s fate. Despite Bhui’s valiant effort, India D was bowled out for 301, handing India A a comprehensive 186-run victory. Mulani’s stellar performance with both bat and ball, including his 89 in the first innings and 3 wickets in the second, earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.

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