India Blue pile up 707 against India Green in Duleep Trophy

Cheteshwar Pujara (166) and Sheldon Jackson (105) helped India Blue register a huge 707 all out in their first innings against India Green on the second day of the four-day Duleep Trophy cricket contest here on Monday.

Pujara, who was unbeaten overnight on 63, was involved in two crucial partnerships -- first a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket with Abhimanyu Mithun (32) and later 48-run partnership with Dinesh Karthik (48) as India Blue hammered the India Green bowlers.

India Blue, who ended the first day's play at 336/3, thanks to Mayank Agarwal's 161 and captain Gautam Gambhir's 90, further bolstered their chances of reaching the final as Jackson and Karn Sharma (57) continued to punish the rival side -- in an 108-run stand for the eighth wicket.

While right-hander Pujara took his time and stroked 24 boundaries to score 166 in 280 deliveries, Jackson's knock was pure entertainment, laced with seven fours and five sixes among the 114 deliveries he faced during his innings.

Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder Parvez Rasool also contributed with a 25-run innings as India Blue decided to almost bat the opposition out of the match.

Karnataka leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal was the most successful bowler for India Green as he picked five wickets for 173 runs, while Bengal medium pacer Ashok Dinda took one wicket.

Brief scores: 707 all out (Cheteshwar Pujara 166, Sheldon Jackson 105, Karn Sharma 57; Shreyas Gopal 5/173, Ashok Dinda 2/114) vs India Green.

--IANS

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