Yashasvi Jaiswal followed up his first innings double century with another second innings hundred as Rest of India set Madhya Pradesh (MP) to a target of 437 in the Irani Cup 2023. MP went to the stumps on Day 4 in Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior at 81/2. They needed 356 more runs for an improbable win on Sunday March 5.
Resuming their second innings at 85/1, Rest of India were bowled out for 246 in 71.3 overs. Abhimanyu Easwaran (28) was the first batsman to be dismissed that day. He was dropped by pacer Avesh Khan with a backhanded throw that stayed low.
Baba Indrajith and Yash Dhull fell for the ducks as Rest of India fell to 108/4 in the Irani Cup 2023 clash. Indrajith was caught lbw by Avesh, while Dhull overcame the first ball he faced from Ankit Kushwah to dodge .
The rest of India were down five for 122 when Upendra Yadav also fell to Kushwah. However, Jaiswal made sure his team finished with a sizeable lead to keep the pressure on MP. Even when the wickets fell at the other end, he kept attacking. The lefty hit 16 fours and three 6s on his 144 stroke, which came off just 157 balls.
Jaiswal and Atit Sheth (30) added 61 runs for the sixth wicket before a mix-up led to the latter’s run. Jaiswal was the eighth man out in the innings. The brilliant blow of him was finished off by a Saransh Jain beauty.
The outside lineman hit a long pitch off stump and got the ball to catch and spin. The set batsman misjudged the spin and ended up being dropped. However, he had done his job, putting the rest of India in a commanding position.
Following Jaiswal’s sacking, Shubham Sharma made sure the queue didn’t budge, sending back Navdeep Saini (0) and Mukesh Kumar (0) from successive deliveries.
Himanshu Mantri’s half-century gives MP a slim hope in Irani Cup 2023
After setting a highly challenging target of 437 runs, MP got off to a terror start when Mukesh Kumar caught Arham Aquil’s leg early for a second-ball duck. Himanshu Mantri and Shubham Sharma (13) added 51 runs for the second wicket before Saurabh Kumar edged past the latter and cleared it out.
In the stumps on Day 4 of the Irani Cup 2023, Mantri was unbeaten on 51 of 78 balls, having hit eight fours. Harsh Gawli was keeping him company on 15*.