Duleep Trophy: Rain-marred India Red, India Blue tie ends in draw

Greater Noida, Sep 1 (IANS) The match between India Red and 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.

The draw has put India Red in the final of the Duleep Trophy and the last league match between India Blue and India Green will now be a virtual semi-final.

India Blue will take on India Green 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.

--IANS

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