Duleep Trophy: Gaikwad & Sai Sudharsan register rapid 50-run opening stand

After adding just 11 runs together at the top of the order in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy clash in Anantapur, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan made amends in the second by adding a rapid 50-run stand to set the tone for the chase for India C.

The duo added 64 together in just 10.4 overs before Sudharsan fell to the bowling of off-spinner Saransh Jain. They tore into the India D bowlers from the get go, bringing up the 50-run opening stand in just 6.3 overs (39 balls).

Skipper Gaikwad was the aggressor in the partnership, scoring 38 off 33 balls. Sudharsan and Gaikwad smashed 12 boundaries in total and seven of them came from the bat of the right-hander, who set the tone in the first two balls of the chase by hammering consecutive fours. 

Harshit Rana, the pick of the bowlers in the first innings (4/33), was taken off the attack after just three overs as he leaked 25 runs. 

The quickfire opening stand gave the perfect start to the chase for India C, who needed 233 to beat India D and get off to a winning start in Duleep Trophy 2024. 

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