West Zone and North Zone secured a semi-final berth within the Duleep Trophy by taking a primary innings lead of their matches towards North East Zone and East Zone respectively.
While West took a large 367-run lead over North East Zone on the MA Chidambaram Stadium and opted for batting follow on the fourth and closing day on Sunday, North rode a scintillating ton by debutant Yash Dhull (193) and East Zone’s whole. Overhauled the rating. , By the top of the match, West Zone, led by Ajinkya Rahane, had scored 268 for 5. Ath Sheth remained unbeaten on 102 (101 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) and Shams Mulani fell on 97 (115 balls, 12 fours) because the match led to a draw. The North East bowlers did significantly better within the second innings and bowled out their opponents for 3 for 49 and 65 for 4 earlier than Mulani and Sheth got here collectively for a 179-run partnership.
Medium pacer Dippu Sangma (3 for 70) stored the West Indies batsmen beneath management by dismissing Het Patel (7), Rahul Tripathi (24) and Hardik Tamor (24). In Puducherry, North resumed the evening at 433 for 3, including 112 runs earlier than being bowled out for 545. Himanshu Rana scored 81 and captain Mandeep Singh scored 63 runs for a affected person.
North Zone was prepared for an enormous whole however hard-hitting left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed took 5 wickets to limit Mandeep Singh & Co. Shahbaz Ahmed’s scalp included Mandeep, Himanshu Rana, Nishant Sindhu. He ended a 131-run stand between Mandeep and Himanshu Rana, which helped East cease North’s cost. Earlier on Saturday, the proficient Dhul made a superb 193 (243 balls, 28 fours, 2 sixes) to offer North Zone a solution to East’s first innings rating of 397.
Brief Scores:
In Puducherry: East Zone 397 in 136.4 overs (Virat Singh 117) and 102 for 3 whereas North Zone was all out in 545 148.5 overs (Yash Dhul 193, Dhruv Shourie 81, Mandeep Singh 63, Himanshu Rana 62, Manan Vohra 44), Shahbaz Ahmed 86 for five. (North took first innings lead and certified) in Chennai: West Zone 590 for two in 123 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 228, Ajinkya Rahane 207 not out, Prithvi Shaw 113) and 268 for five in 64.3 overs (Athit Sheth 102 not out) , Shams Mulani 97, Dippu 3 for 70, Biswarjeet 2 for 39) North East Zone drew 235 in 81.5 overs (Ankur Malik 81, Ashish Thapa 43, Hokaito Zimono 32, Jaydev Unadkat 35 runs) Giving 3 wickets, Chintan Gaza 4 for 38). (West took the lead and certified within the first innings).
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
