Shreyas and Tiwary steer India B to Deodhar title
DHARAMSALA: Karnataka batsman R Samarth’s second century of the tournament went in vain as India B eased to a six-wicket win in the Deodhar Trophy final here on Thursday.
India pacer Umesh Yadav and spinner Khaleel Ahmed (3/49) combined to keep Vijay Hazare Trophy champions Karnataka in check after they elected to bat.
India B batsmen then dominated Karnataka bowling with four batsmen scoring fifties to ensure victory.
Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (58 - 48 b, 7x4, 2x6) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (69 - 82b, 8x4) set the tone with an 84-run stand.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer (61 - 69b, 7x4), who was part of the limitedovers squad on India’s South Africa tour, and the seasoned Manoj Tiwary (59 no - 51b, 8x4) then added 83 runs to ensure they would be no Karnataka fightback.
Karnataka, who had squeezed out a six-run win over India B in the league phase, lost the prolific Mayank Agarwal and skipper Karun Nair cheaply.
However, R Samarth, who had scores of 117 and 85 in the previous two games, anchored the innings with 107 (120b, 8x4, 1x6), holding one end up until he was out off the last delivery in the 49th over.
Wicketkeeper CM Gautam, who has also been in good touch, struck 76 (84b, 6x4, 2x6) and raised a 132-run partnership with Samarth. Shreyas Gopal too contributed towards the end, scoring a 22-ball 38 runs (4x4, 1x6).
Samarth was named Man-ofthe-Match.
Brief scores: Karnataka 279/8 in 50 overs (R Samarth 107, CM Gautam 76; K Ahmed 3/49) ; India B 281/4 in 48.2 overs (R Gaikwad 58, R Easwaran 69, S Iyer 61, M Tiwary 59no).