WATCH, Duleep Trophy | Axar decimates India C attack in Bazballian match-saving knock

Gantavya Adukia

ByGantavya Adukia, SportsCafe Editor

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As the saying goes, it is never over until the fat lady sings or Axar Patel departs the crease. The Indian all-rounder has made a habit of playing crucial knocks in the most dire of situations and the Duleep Trophy opener was no different as Axar pummeled 86 runs in a brilliant attacking display.

India D folded for 164 after managing to bat just two sessions in the Duleep Trophy first round fixture between India C and India D in Anantpur on Thursday. The pitch was offering all kinds of assistance to bowlers in the form of spin, seam movement, and bounce, enabling India C to seize control early and whittle their opponents down to 34/5 within 11 overs. Axar Patel thus walked out at number seven and went on to smash an entertaining 86 in a knock of two halves, while no other batter managed to even cross the mark of 15.

The all-rounder began steady, managing just 20 runs off his first 58 balls while watching his team crumble down to 76/8 shortly after Lunch. With a proper tailender thus taking to the crease in Arshdeep Singh, Axar realized the need to take charge and did so with aplomb. He began his counter attack with two boundaries off Himanshu Chauhan in the 35th over, added a fourth four to his tally in the 38th over, and then truly went gung ho in the ensuing over by Manav Suthar. The veteran first launched one down the wicket for a maximum, made it 10 off two with another gorgous stroke the following delivery, watched a ball trickle behind for four byes, and brought up his half-century with a statement-making slog for six off the left-arm spinner. Axar was far from done though as he struck another four in the next over and smashed Hrithik Shokeen for back-to-back maximums in the 42nd despite all fielders being placed on the perimeter. The 30-year-old eventually ended with six boundaries and as many sixes and it took an exceptional take from Manav Suthar near the ropes to restrict him for 86.

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