Published: Aug 24, 2016, 01:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 24, 2016, 01:40 PM (IST)
Catch the live cricket streaming of the first match in the Duleep Trophy 2016-17, between India Red and India Green, which is being played with the pink cricket ball, at starsports.com. The first-ever pink cricket ball match in India is played at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in Greater Noida. While Yuvraj Singh is leading the India Red team, all-rounder Suresh Raina is the skipper of the India Green team. The four-day match is been played from August 23, 24, 25 and 26. The tournament has begun on August 23 and will finish on September 14. ALSO READ – India Red vs India Green, Duleep Trophy Live Updates of first pink cricket ball competition in India
The end of first day saw 17 wickets falling as both sides displayed poor batting. India Red opted to bat first after winning the toss. Abhinav Mukund remained the top scorer for his team as he scored 77. India Red mustered only 161 before they got all out. Sandeep Sharma took 4 wickets for his team, while Pragyan Ojha took 3. India Green followed the same footsteps as they rivals did. India Green are currently struggling at 116 for 7 with Saurabh Tiwary and Ashok Dinda at the crease. India Green is still trailing India Red by 45 runs.
Suresh Raina remained the top scorer for his side as he made 35. The first interruption happened just after the dinner interval when play was delayed by 17 minutes due to insufficient light while the second break stretched to about 50 minutes. The organisers refused to answer any queries after the fiasco as play carried on well past 9pm, the original time for end of play. “There was some problem in the main electrical circuit of the floodlights, which was tripping,” a ground official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Earlier the players taking part in Tuesday’s match, between teams that have been rebranded India Red and India Green, were excited at the prospect of the longest format of the game also being played after dark in India. “I think it is pretty exciting and something to look forward to,” said veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who has enjoyed great success for the national team under lights in ODI and T20 cricket.
“The New Zealand-Australia Test match (first day-night Test played in Adelaide last year) I saw was pretty exciting. The ball was swinging a bit much. It will be challenging if it swings a lot, playing under lights,” added Singh, who is captaining India Red.
Suresh Raina, the captain of India Green who is trying to force his way back into the Indian team, was similarly enthusiastic. “The Duleep Trophy has not been played with the pink ball before and it’s a good challenge. All the boys are keen (to perform) and this is a good platform ahead of the season,” said Raina
