The condition of Central Zone is not good in the semi-final match of Duleep Trophy. He still has to score 468 runs to win while he has only one day and eight days left.
Prithvi Shaw scored a century and strengthened the team. (File Pic)
West Zone has set a huge target of 501 runs in front of Central Zone in the semi-final match of Duleep Trophy being played at SNR College. Central Zone did not start well in front of this target and they have lost their two wickets for 33 runs till the end of Saturday’s play on the third day. From the batsmen of the West Zone to the bowlers, the Central Zone was harassed fiercely. Prithvi Shaw played a brilliant innings from the West Zone and on the basis of this he was able to give a strong target like a mountain to the Central Zone.
Prithvi showed an aggressive style and played an innings of 142 runs. Apart from them, West Zone scored 371 runs in their second innings with useful contributions from Het Patel (67) and Armaan Jaffer (49). The Central Zone team is currently 468 runs behind the target. He only has one day left.
starting the day like this
West Zone started the third day with 130 runs for the loss of three wickets. Prithvi extended his innings by 104 runs but he could not last long. He added 38 runs to his account and was dismissed by Karn Sharma. He faced 140 balls in his innings and hit 15 fours and four sixes. Even after the departure of the earth, however, the West Zone did not disintegrate and its middle order, lower order did well. Patel faced 153 balls and hit four fours and a six. Armaan played 100 balls out of which he was able to send six for fours. On one he hit a six.
After Prithvi’s dismissal, Jaffer and Patel continued to trouble the middle-field bowlers. Apart from these two, Shams Mulani (29), Atit Seth (20) and Tanush Kotian (28) made useful contributions in the lower order to take the team’s score to 371 runs. Kumar Karthikeya was the most successful bowler for the Central Zone. The left-arm bowler took three wickets for 105 runs. He also took five wickets in the first innings.
Central zone batting failed
By the end of the day’s play, Central Zone lost two wickets for 33 runs and increased their troubles. The team lost the wickets of openers Himanshu Mantri (18) and Yash Dubey (14) within 9.2 overs. In the first two days of this four-day match, in response to West Zone’s 257 runs in the first innings, Central Zone’s first innings was reduced to 128 runs and West Zone came out with a lead of 129 runs in their second innings.