Tilak Varma in action during Duleep Trophy match© X (formerly Twitter)
Tilak Varma and Pratham made smooth hundreds to drive India A to a commanding position against India D after the third day of their Duleep Trophy match on Saturday. Varma did no harm to his ambitions of keeping himself visible in the India scheme of things with an unbeaten 111 (193 balls, 9x4), while Pratham made an impressive 122 (189 balls, 12x4, 1x6) as India A declared their second innings closed at 380 for three. It gave them an overall lead of 487, and India D have chiselled off 62 from the target of 488 for the loss of Atharva Taide. Ricky Bhui (44) and Yash Dubey (15) were at the crease for India D.
Pratham, who resumed from the overnight 59, continued to play fluently and reached his 100 in 149 balls in the first session itself.
But the 32-year-old Railways batter fell to left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar close to the end of the opening session. Pratham added 104 runs for the second wicket with Varma.
However, Varma, who was once rated by Rohit Sharma as India's next all-format player, held his end up well remaining unbeaten on 60, having brought up his fifty a bit earlier off 96 balls. India A took lunch at a solid 260 for two after starting the day from 115 for one.
But soon after resumption, India A lost Riyan Parag for 20 but Varma found an equally determined partner in Shashwat Rawat (64 not out, 88 balls, 7x4).
The fourth-wicket pair added 116 runs without getting separated that gave India A complete control of the proceedings.
Varma notched up his fifth First-Class hundred with a late cut to the third man region off off-spinner Saransh Jain that fetched the left-hander two runs. His hundred came off 177 balls.
India A went to tea break at 370 for three and then batted about 15 minutes into the final session before declaring the innings closed.
Though India D lost opener Taide in the third over to pacer Khaleel Ahmed, Dubey and Bhui ensured that their side will enter the final day without further damage.