T20 Mumbai

Making the most of his opportunity, Siddhesh Lad scored a couple of well-compiled half-centuries to steer India Red into the finals of Duleep Trophy 2018.

On the opening day of the match at the NPR Cricket Ground at Dindigul, Lad walked into bat with his side at 123 for 3 and was in search of a sumptuous first innings total. He batted out the rest of the day and stitched a solid 90-run stand for the fourth wicket with Ashutosh Singh.

On the morning of the second day, he got out after adding just five runs to his overnight score. Lad’s gritty 142-ball 88 had 12 fours and two maximums that propelled India Red's total to 316 in their first innings. It looked a competitive total as India Blue were bundled out for 293 when they batted.

In the second innings, India Red lost their top three wickets for 81 runs and yet again it was Lad who crafted a crucial partnership. The Icon Player for Shivaji Park Lions in T20 Mumbai put on 117 runs along with wicket-keeper batsman Akshay Wadkar for the fourth wicket, steadying the side.

In his supreme effort to bat the opposition out the game, Lad’s second innings featured a brand of percentage cricket that he is famous for. He scored four 4s and two 6s on his way to 68 and gave India Blue a daunting target of 279 runs.

India Blue was tottering at 128 for 8 in the final hour of the match when both the umpires called it a draw.

Lad, for his consecutive half centuries, was awarded the player of the match. The 21-year-old who averaged 59.27 in the Ranji Trophy also scored three tons in the Vijay Hazare at an average of 62.16 and he will keen to continue his fine form into the finals of the Duleep Trophy.