India Red enter Duleep Trophy final after rain washes out 4th days play

 

Greater Noida: India Red entered into the Duleep Trophy final as their match against India Blue was called off after rain played spoilsport on the fourth and final day at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground here on Thursday.

India Blue will take on India Green in what will be a virtual semi final at the same venue starting on Sunday. The fourth day's play was washed away without a single over being bowled as incessant rain on Wednesday morning worsened the playing conditions in the ground. Rain allowed only 345 minutes of play over four days. Greater Noida: India Red entered into the Duleep Trophy final as their match against India Red was called off after rain played spoilsport on the fourth and final day at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground here on Thursday. India Blue will take on India Green in what will be a virtual semi final at the same venue starting on Sunday. The fourth day's play was washed away without a single over being bowled as incessant rain on Wednesday morning worsened the playing conditions in the ground. Rain allowed only 345 minutes of play over four days. Earlier on Tuesday, Dinesh Karthik (35 not out) and Sheldon Jackson (48 not out) took the team to 285/5 before rain forced an early close of play. The right-handed duo forged an 85-run partnership for the sixth wicket to steady the innings after chinaman Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc by scalping four wickets on Tuesday. India Blue got off to a good start from openers Mayank Agarwal (92) and Gautam Gambhir (77) with a 151-run stand before their innings derailed with the fall of five wickets within a span of just 49 runs. Baba Aparajith (19), Suryakumar Yadav (5) and Karn Sharma fell cheaply to leave the team tottering before seasoned stumper Karthik and Jackson saved the team. For the India Red side, Yadav and pacer Nathu Singh were the only wicket-takers.