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Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Nayar propel India Blue to 345/4 against India Red in NKP Salve Challenger Trophy

Yuvraj Singh (84) and Abhishek Nayar (75 not out) were involved in a 151-run partnership as India Blue posted a massive total of 345 for four in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy match against India Red on Friday. Akshath Reddy (84) and Manish Pandey (70) also made significant contributions after they were sent into bat.

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Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Nayar propel India Blue to 345/4 against India Red in NKP Salve Challenger Trophy

Yuvraj Singh struck six boundaries and five sixes in his knock of 84 © PTI (File Photo)

Indore: Sep 27, 2013
 
Playing yet another innings of substance in his comeback bid, Yuvraj Singh hit a blistering half-century as India Blue batted superbly to post a massive 345 for four against India Red in the Challengers Series in Indore on Friday.

Both Yuvraj and opener Akshath Reddy scored 84 runs each but former’s knock came off just 53 balls as he punished the India Red bowler with 11 boundaries, including five sixes.

Reddy’s 84 came off 96 balls with five fours and two shots over the fence.

Abhishek Nayar also tormented the rival bowlers with his fiery unbeaten 75-run knock that came off just 39 balls.

Yuvraj and Nayar plundered 151 runs in just 13 overs in their fourth wicket partnership, which ended with former’s run out in the last over of the innings.

Now Yuvraj has one century and three half-centuries in his last five matches, after being handed a career lifeline by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) with inclusion in India A team for the series against the West Indies A.

India Red skipper Yusuf Pathan‘s decision to invite the Blues to bat seemed all right as they had kept the rival batsmen under a leash and had also scalped Naman Ojha cheaply at the start.

However, that rejoicing period was short as Reddy found a good partner in Manish Pandey. They not only negated the early strike but soon put their side in the driver’s seat with their determined and fearless batting.

They raised a 143-run stand for the second wicket, setting the stage for Yuvraj and Nayar to rip apart the bowlers in the slog overs.

The two batsmen hammered the bowlers to all corners of the park as India Blue scored 162 runs in the last 15 overs. Nayar hit six four and four sixes in his knock.

None of the Red bowlers could make an impact but medium fast bowler Suraj Yadav was the expensive as he bled 84 runs in his 10-over quota.

Brief scores:

India Blue 345 for 4 in 50 overs (Yuvraj Singh 84, Akshath Reddy 84, Abhishek Nayar 75*) vs India Red

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