NEWS
Follow UsMusheer Khan and Navdeep Saini notched up a record 205-run partnership for the eighth wicket in the ongoing game between India A and B in the first round of the Duleep Trophy. This was the highest partnership for the eighth wicket in Duleep Trophy history, bettering the last record by eight runs, which was created by Abhishek Nayar and Ramesh Powar, who had a 197-run partnership for West Zone vs North Zone back in 2010 in Gwalior.
India B were in serious trouble when pacer Navdeep Saini joined Musheer Khan at the crease. The star-studded lineup that included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar was back in the pavilion before the score could reach three digits. When Sai Kishore, the last batter with creditable batting ability, got dismissed, the score read 94/7 for India B.
However, Musheer and Saini batted with great patience and strategy. Saini, especially, was resolute in his defence and scored his maiden half-century in first-class cricket. Meanwhile, Musheer was splendid with his batting, scoring 181 runs and batting for 373 deliveries in his marathon innings.
The combined efforts of both batters ensured that India B didn't lose the plot despite India A bowlers bowling with their tails up after a fruitful second session where five wickets fell. They continued their partnership on Day 2 and batted with the same intent, albeit gradually increasing the pace of their run-scoring.
Musheer’s dismissal brought an end to this partnership. He had upped the ante after bringing up his 150 and was dealing in sixes against the spinners. In a hurry to reach to his 200, he mistimed a slog sweep and was caught at the boundary line on a score of 181. Saini was the last batter to be dismissed for India B after scoring 56 runs and batting for 145 deliveries.
India B ended their first innings at 321.
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