Mulani and Kotian Propel India A to Strong Victory Against India D

In an impressive display on the final day of their Duleep Trophy match, Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian shone with the ball, leading India A to a commanding 186-run victory over India D. This triumph boosts India A's aspirations for the title as they ascend to third place in the standings with six points, setting the stage for a crucial encounter against table leaders India C in their final match starting Thursday.

Beginning the day with a task of claiming nine wickets, India A was challenged by the overnight partnership of Yash Dubey and Ricky Bhui. Bhui, who had aggressively taken on the bowlers the day before, continued his onslaught in the morning session. However, a fortunate moment for India A occurred when Dubey was run out after an unexpected ricochet from his own bat struck the stumps, granting India A the breakthrough they desperately needed.

Despite Bhui's valiant effort, scoring a determined 113, he lacked support from his teammates, as Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson could only manage brief contributions. India D remains the only team in the tournament yet to earn a point.

Mulani and Kotian skillfully capitalised on the playing conditions. Mulani's precision and Kotian's effective bounce provided India A with consistent wicket-taking opportunities. While Iyer attempted to rebuild his innings with some boundaries, he ultimately fell prey to a well-executed delivery from Mulani. Samson also made a few aggressive strokes before being dismissed by Mulani.

Bhui's century was a standout moment for India D, as he meticulously constructed his innings. Nevertheless, Kotian's relentless bowling effort eventually saw Bhui fall, along with Saransh Jain and Saurabh Kumar, in a crucial spell that sealed the match for India A.

In the other match, India C opted for a cautious approach against India B after establishing a significant lead. India B was bowled out for 322, with captain Abhimanyu Easwaran showcasing resilience with an unbeaten 157. Following a second-innings declaration at 128/4, India C settled for a draw against India B.

Match Summary: India A 290 & 380/3 declared defeated India D 183 & 301 (Ricky Bhui 113, Shreyas Iyer 41, Sanju Samson 40; Tanush Kotian 4/73, Shams Mulani 3/117) by 186 runs. India C drew with India B 332 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 157*, Narayan Jagadeesan 70; Anshul Kamboj 8/69).