Duleep Trophy: India Blue virtually through to final

After a dominant batting display, India Blue dished out a lethal bowling effort to bundle out India Green for just 237 runs and virtually secure its place in the final of the four-day Duleep Trophy cricket tournament, in Greater Noida on Tuesday.

In reply to India Blue's mammoth first innings total of 707, India Green's fightback lasted for just 61 overs.

Even though India Blue could have enforced follow-on on India Green, skipper Gautam Gambhir preferred to have some batting practice with their place in the summit clash a mere formality from here on.

For India Green, wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel top-scored with 55 while skipper Suresh Raina made a brisk 52 off 43 deliveries. Robin Uthappa (41) also played a handy knock up the order.

Pacer Abhimanyu Mithun (3/16) and leg-spinner Karn Sharma (3/74) shared six wickets between them for India Blue.

At stumps on the third and penultimate day's proceedings, India Blue were 85 for no loss in 26 overs and consolidated their overall lead to 555 runs.

Mayank Agarwal carried on his form from the first innings to remain unbeaten on 49 while Gambhir was batting on 36.

Brief Scores:

India Blue 707 & vs India 85 for no loss (Mayank Agarwal 49, Gautam Gambhir 36) vs India Green 237 all out in 61 overs (Parthiv Patel 55, Suresh Raina 52; Abhimanyu 3/16, Karn Sharma 3/74).