Duleep Trophy 2019: Karun Nair leads strong reply from India Red after India Green kept to 440

India Red have crawled back in their Duleep Trophy 2019 league match against India Green thanks to starring performances from spinner Akshay Wakhare and in-form Karun Nair. After keeping their opponents to 440, India Red have given a solid reply thanks to Nair's unbeaten 77 that took them to 140/2 at the close of play on Day 2 at KSCA Cricket Ground, Alur on Friday.

Resuming the innings on 308/4, the overnight pair of Priyam Garg and Akshay Wakhare started well, batting through the first half-an-hour or so without much trouble as they kept the scoreboard moving. The stand was broken when they duo had taken the overall score past the 350-run mark as Garg (53) fell to Aditya Sarwate after completing his half-century.

Following that, Wadkar and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja took over the reins with the latter scoring rather briskly. Quickly they brought up the 400 runs for India Red but then Akshay Wakhare struck with the scalp of Jadeja who was dismissed after scoring 37 off 54. That dismissal triggered a collapse and as Wakhare (5/103) went on to complete his five-wicket haul, India Red were bowled out for 440 - their last five wickets falling for just 35 runs.

India Green though had an inauspicious start when their opening batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran had to retire hurt on 3. However, captain Priyank Panchal and Karun built a solid partnership before being separated.

Panchal fell to Jadeja (2/36) with the scoreboard reading 75/1. Ankit Kalsi (1) fell cheaply before Karun found Mahipal Lomror (22*) as together they took the innings forward.

Nair has so far faced 106 deliveries and struck 14 fours while Lomror has three fours and a six to his name.

When the day ended, India Red were still trailing by 300 runs and have eight wickets remaining.

Brief Score: India Red 140/2 (Karun Nair 77*; Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 2/36) trail India Green 440 (Akshath Reddy 146, Siddhesh Lad 64, Priyam Garg 53; Akshay Wakhare 5/103) by 300 runs on Day 2