Fri Oct 04 02:59:28 UTC 2024: ## Easwaran’s Century Leads Rest of India’s Fightback Against Mumbai in Irani Cup
**Lucknow:** Abhimanyu Easwaran’s unbeaten 151 led Rest of India’s (ROI) spirited reply to Mumbai’s mammoth 537 in the Irani Cup on Day 3 in Lucknow. At stumps, ROI were 289/4, still trailing by 248 runs.
Easwaran’s knock was a commendable response to Sarfaraz Khan’s unbeaten 222 in Mumbai’s innings. The young opener, along with fellow batter Ruturaj Gaikwad, began the chase positively, scoring two boundaries in the first two overs.
However, Gaikwad was dismissed early, and Easwaran took control, steadily rotating the strike and building crucial partnerships. He reached his fifty with a powerful shot wide of mid-on. A valuable 87-run stand with Sai Sudharsan further strengthened ROI’s resolve.
Sudharsan, though, fell for 39 after a brisk innings, followed by Devdutt Padikkal who was dismissed for 16. Ishan Kishan then joined Easwaran and added another 70 runs, keeping the chase alive.
Easwaran, meanwhile, reached his century off a streaky edge, showcasing his determination. Kishan, on the other hand, fell for 38, looking to accelerate the innings.
The late onslaught from Dhruv Jurel (30*) provided further support to Easwaran. Together, they added 61 runs in an unbroken partnership, ensuring that ROI finished the day on a positive note.
Mukesh Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for ROI, adding another five wickets to his tally after a stellar performance in the Duleep Trophy. His figures of 5-110 provided much-needed respite for the bowlers.
With two days remaining, the match is still very much in the balance. While Mumbai holds a significant lead, Rest of India’s fighting spirit, spearheaded by Easwaran’s century, suggests that they will be aiming to turn the tables in the coming days.
First Piper 