The level of competition isn’t quite what they had to contend with in South Africa, or what lies in store when the Australians come visiting later this month. But dismissing a batsman is always a confidence-booster for a bowler.

Much to Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s immediate relief, both Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh, despite looking innocuous at times, ended up with most wickets for their respective teams. While Harbhajan finished with figures of three for 40, including the wickets of Murali Vijay and Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant took four for 56 even though it didn’t prove good enough to prevent India Red from losing by a wicket to India Blue on Thursday.

It was the relatively unknown trio of Harshad Khadiwale, Ishank Jaggi and Suresh Kumar who ended up doing the bulk of the scoring in the opening match of the Challenger Series. The game also saw Dhoni rolling his arm over, Harbhajan playing a sensible knock at No.3 and Jadeja hanging on to an incredible catch. Khadiwale and Jaggi scored impressive half-centuries to set up India Red’s total, while Tamil Nadu’s Suresh Kumar scored 87 off 113 balls for India Blue.

India Red openers Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan added 79 off 68 balls before Vijay (44 off 35), was snapped up by Harbhajan. The offie got rid of the dangerous Jadeja before clean-bowling Munaf Patel to conclude India Red’s innings at 248.

Ishant struck the first blow to the India Blue chase, removing Naman Ojha. The pacer then accounted for Kedar Jadhav, whose dismissal also provided the moment of the day — Jadeja’s spectacular effort at backward point. Harbhajan began with a couple of boundaries off Ishant, but soon settled down to put on 57 for the fourth wicket with Suresh Kumar. India Blue captain Dhoni looked set to lead his team to a comfortable victory before holing out to R Ashwin off Ishant for 37. Though his death bowling woes did return to haunt him, Ishant dismissed Suresh Kumar to pick up his fourth wicket and give India Red a late chance. But Dinda and Siddharth Trivedi saw the team home.