Mumbai’s Shams Mulani bailed India A out from 93/5 to help them post a competitive total of 290 runs against India D in Duleep Trophy 2024 with a well-compiled 89. He is now a member of a club featuring batters with most fifties without scoring a hundred in first-class cricket. This was Mulani’s 17th first-class half-century as he equalled Sarabjit Singh’s tally. Former India left-arm orthodox Murali Karthik topped the list with 21 fifties in 258 innings.
After Pratham Singh and captain Mayank Agarwal perished cheaply, Riyan Parag hit a counter-attacking 37 off 29 balls. Wickets kept tumbling till Kushagra Dixit joined hands with Mulani, who walked out to bat at number seven.
They added 51 from 90 balls before the Mumbai pair of Mulani and Tanush Kotian grinded it out for 27 overs to frustrate the India D bowlers as conditions eased up towards the end of a hot day.
Brief scores: India A 288/8 (Shams Mulani 88*, Tanush Kotian 53; Vidhwath Kaverappa 2-30) vs India D