Mayank Agarwal in action during 2024 Duleep Trophy game.© X/@BCCIdomestic
Half-centuries by skipper Mayank Agarwal and Pratham Singh helped India A reach 115 for one in their second innings and extend their hold over India D after second day's play of the Duleep Trophy in Anantapur on Friday. India A, who made 290 in their first innings, earlier bowled out their opponents for 183 despite India batter Devdutt Padikkal's valiant 92 to gain a lead of 107 runs. Now, India A have an advantage of 222 runs, with Agarwal (56, 87b, 8x4) and Pratham (59 batting, 82b, 6x4) leading their run glut in the second innings.
However, Agarwal, who is eager to chart his way back into selectorial reckoning, will be kicking himself for falling on the last ball of the day to part-time spinner Shreyas Iyer, spooning a simple return catch.
But till that point, Agarwal and Pratham played fluently and executed some fluent drives and cuts as the run-rate never came under four.
However, that's just one part of India A's story of domination on the day as earlier pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Aaqib Khan bagged three wickets apiece to rattle the India D line-up.
Only one of their batters defied the constant challenge of judgement - Devdutt who stroked his way to a 124-ball 92 with 15 hits to the ropes.
The Karnataka left-hander who made his Test debut earlier this year against England was particularly harsh on any offering on his pads or away from the off-stump.
A century was there for his taking, but the 24-year-old fell just eight runs shy as his attempt to play a shot on the up off state-mate Prasidh Krishna ended up in a simple catch to stumper Kumar Kushagra.
The 11-4-30-1 figures do not fall under the hallow-spell category, but for Prasidh it was important in his comeback journey.
This was the pacer's first outing in competitive cricket since Karnataka's Ranji Trophy game against Gujarat in January this year.
Since that match, the 28-year-old was recuperating from a quadricep injury.
Harshit Rana made a 31 off 29 balls, including two back-to-back sixes off left-arm spinner Shams Mulani, but his effort was not enough for India D to close the gap with their rivals.
However, Rana can take a slice of comfort as he completed a four-wicket haul in the opening session of the day to bowl out India A for 290 in their first dig.
India A were resuming from their overnight 288 for eight, but lost Mulani and Aaqib to Rana who ended up with 4 for 51.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)