Easwaran leads ROI’s dogged fightback with splendid ton after Day 3’s action of the Irani Cup against Mumbai.
Easwaran scores unbeaten 151 took Rest of India (RoI) to 289 for 4 at the end of day three of the Irani Cup in Lucknow. But with Mumbai posting 537 in their first innings, RoI still have a mountain to climb.
Mumbai could only add one to their 536 for 9 overnight total in the morning. Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten at 222 after Mukesh Kumar removed Mohammad Juned Khan’s off stump in the third over of the day, taking his fifth wicket of the innings.
RoI had a rather nervy start but with Shardul Thakur sick, Mumbai were obliged to bring spin as early as in the sixth over. The breakthrough came from Juned, who grabbed captain of the Indian team Ruturaj Gaikwad at second slip. RoI had only 40 runs on the board at that moment but Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan stabilised them with an 87-run stand for the second wicket.
But after lunch, Sudharsan was bowled out for 32 by Tanush Kotian after failing to convert his opening position. Devdutt Padikkal didn’t last long either, as he was bowled by Mohit Avasthi and caught behind for sixteen. For Ishan Kishan, the story was the same. Before pushing Avasthi to the wicketkeeper, he scored 38.
On the other hand, Easwaran appeared at ease. Despite the fact that only 38 of the runs were boundaries, he easily reached his century off just 117 balls. After reaching his century, he began to fade a little. But Dhruv Jurel kept things going with an undefeated thirty-one off forty-one balls.
Easwaran reached his 150 in the penultimate over of the day. Jurel then struck Kotian for a four and a six off consecutive balls. The pair had put on 61 runs in a continuous stand for the fifth wicket by stumps.