Duleep Trophy 2017: India Red's Priyank Panchal, Dinesh Karthik slam tons; India Green to chase 474

The second session of Day Three of the first match in Duleep Trophy 2017 belonged to India Red batters at Lucknow. Priyank Panchal, the chief architect of Gujarat s Ranji Trophy triumph earlier this year, slammed his 13th First-Class ton. This is his second century in the match. He was well supported by his skipper Dinesh Karthik, who went on to register his 26th First-Class century. The second session was more about Karthik s stroke play. He began cautiously before attacking the India Green bowlers.

India Red declared their innings at 307 for 2, setting up a target of 474. Not a single wicket fell in the second session of Day Three as India Red look favourites to cruise to a win.

The duo registered an unbeaten 181-run stand from 233 balls. While Panchal followed up his 105 with a composed 213-ball 133 not out, Karthik was the aggressor and scored his century from only 124 balls, in an innings consisting 9 fours and 2 sixes. Earlier, Panchal had shared 114-run stand for the second wicket with Rahul Singh, who departed for 54. Karthik had scored a fifty in the first innings as well. Murali Vijay claimed both wickets from this innings.

India Green have almost 4 sessions to chase down the huge score and have talent in form of Vijay and Parthiv Patel. Vijay, who has already taken 5 wickets in the match, is expected to deliver with the bat.

Earlier, India Green were bowled out for 157, responding to India Red s 323. It was spinners Karn Sharma and Krishnappa Gowtham, who bagged 4 and 5 wickets respectively.

India Red 323 (Priyank Panchal 105, Sudip Chatterjee 52, Dinesh Karthik 50; Murali Vijay 3 for 46) & 307 for 2 (Priyank Panchal 133*, Rahul Singh 54, Dinesh Karthik 100*; Murali Vijay 2 for 26) lead India Green 157 (Prashant Chopra 65; Karn Sharma 4 for 39, Krishnappa Gowtham 5 for 46) lead by 473 runs.