Irani Cup: Abhimanyu scores another hundred in strong reply by RoI

In-form opener Abhimanyu Easwaran sent a timely reminder to the national selectors with his third successive hundred while holding the Rest of India innings together after Mumbai posted a first-innings score of 537 in the Irani Cup.

Easwaran compiled an unbeaten 151 off 212 balls and laced his innings with 12 fours and a six on the third day of the match.

Thanks to Easwaran's second Irani Cup hundred, RoI reached 289/4 in their first innings and reduced the deficit to 248 runs by stumps.

The 29-year-old Bengal cricketer, who finds himself in a three-way race with RoI teammates Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan to book the slot in what could be a jumbo squad as India's reserve Test opener for the upcoming long tour of Australia, reached his century in 117 balls with a boundary off Mohit Avasthi.

This was Easwaran's third successive First-Class hundred and came at a time when his team needed it the most, having lost skipper Gaikwad (9) cheaply.

Brief scores: Mumbai: 537 all out (Sarfaraz 222*, Rahane 97; Mukesh 5/110, Dayal 2/89); Rest of India: 289/4 (Easwaran 151*; Avasthi 2/66).