Chennai: Steady batting down the order helped Elite 'B' score 343 for eight in its first innings against Plate 'B' at stumps on the first day of the Duleep Trophy championship on Wednesday. At close, former India stumper M S K Prasad (37) and Sourashish Lahiri (30) were at the crease, having put on 57 runs in 15.1 overs for the unfinished ninth wicket. The duo steadied the innings after former India and Madhya Pradesh leg spinner Narendra Hirwani (5/76) took four wickets in the space of 22 balls. Electing to bat, Elite 'B' was off to a good start with the openers, left-hander Amit Phagnis (23) and Wasim Jaffer (35) putting on 66 runs for the first wicket. But it slumped to 110 for 3 and 168 for 4 and rallied through good knocks by Arjun Yadav (59), skipper and left-hand batsman Rohan Gavaskar (42), and another southpaw Tejinder Pal Singh (64). Arjun Yadav and Wasim Jaffer added 42 for the third wicket. Then Arjun and Rohan Gavaskar put on 58 runs for the fourth wicket before Rohan fell. Arjun added another 98 runs for the fifth wicket with T P Singh in 27.2 overs before Hirwani got into his wicket-taking spree, removing Arjun, T P Singh, Sairaj Bahutule (0) and another left-hander Amit Uniyal (8). Earlier, he claimed Vinayak Mane for 1. At tea, Elite 'B' was 246 for 4 with Arjun (54) and T P Singh (48) batting. Hirwani hustled its batting in the post tea session.

Tags: cricket, duleep trophy championship, m s k prasad, sourashish lahiri, narendra hirwani, amit phagnis, wasim jaffer, arjun yadav, rohan gavaskar, tejinder pal singh, sairaj bahutule, amit uniyal, vinay.