Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Bhuvaneshwar Kumar’s gutsy century helped him script an unbelievable comeback for his side Central Zone as they are 10 runs shy of taking an all-important lead against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final here on Tuesday.
After North scored a commendable 451, the Central Zone riding on Bhuvenshwar’s unbeaten 120 [12x4, 3x6] are tantalisingly close at 442 for nine. In fact, the 10th wicket partnership between Bhuvenhwar and Rituraj Singh who is batting on 21 yielded an astonioshing 100 runs.
The fact that these runs came in less than 22 overs is also laudable.
While this match will always be remembered for Yuvraj Singh’s double hundred, Bhuveneshwar’s innings is no mean achievement considering he batted with the tail for the better part of his innings. A win will certainly make his maiden first class ton even more memorable.
Starting the day at 146/5, skipper Mohammed Kaif who contributed 64 and glovesman Mahesh Rawat [71, 131 balls, 9x4] took the score to 219 before former India player was dismissed. Rawat was dismissed at the score of 251 while Praveen Kumar hit three sixes in his quickfire 27 before Amit Mishra dismissed him.
At 293 for eight, Murali Kartik [22] joined Bhuvneshwar as the pair added 49 runs for the ninth wicket to take the score to 342 before the former gave a catch to Yuvraj Singh at first slip to become Mishra’s fourth victim.
With 110 runs still to get and a wicket in hand, it looked like a mere formality for North Zone to get a sizeable first innings lead but Bhuvneshwar and Rituraj defied all odds as they negotiated both pace and spin with aplomb.
While Mishra bowled 39 overs for his four wickets, the fact that he had given away 151 runs will certainly pinch him.
Another leggie Rahul Sharma was also rendered ineffective as he gave away 75 runs in his 26 wicketless over.
EAST ENJOY 152 RUNS LEAD OVER SOUTH
The first semifinal of the Duleep Trophy between defnding champions East Zone and South Zone is interestingly poised with the former scoring 126 for six in their second innings to enjoy a slender 152-run lead at stumps on day 3.
The East bowlers, led by Iresh Saxena and Samar Quadri, bowled out South Zone for 244 in 82.4 overs in their first innings to eke out a narrow 23-run lead.
However, the East batsmen failed to capitalise and lost six wickets for 129 runs at stumps at Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy stadium here.
With just four wickets left, it will be intestering to see how the East batsmen fair in the first hour of play.
If they fail to survive the initial moments, then South Zone’s Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey could take the game away from East.
Earlier, Qadri and Saxena picked up two wickets each and Ashoke Dinda claimed one as South Zone could add just 110 runs to their overnight score of 134-5, to end 23 runs behind East’s first innings score.
However, East played poor cricket in their second essay as barring skipper Natraj Behera [60], none of the batsmen could make any mark. Behera had eight fours in his 113-run innings to save the day.
After North scored a commendable 451, the Central Zone riding on Bhuvenshwar’s unbeaten 120 [12x4, 3x6] are tantalisingly close at 442 for nine. In fact, the 10th wicket partnership between Bhuvenhwar and Rituraj Singh who is batting on 21 yielded an astonioshing 100 runs.
The fact that these runs came in less than 22 overs is also laudable.
While this match will always be remembered for Yuvraj Singh’s double hundred, Bhuveneshwar’s innings is no mean achievement considering he batted with the tail for the better part of his innings. A win will certainly make his maiden first class ton even more memorable.
Starting the day at 146/5, skipper Mohammed Kaif who contributed 64 and glovesman Mahesh Rawat [71, 131 balls, 9x4] took the score to 219 before former India player was dismissed. Rawat was dismissed at the score of 251 while Praveen Kumar hit three sixes in his quickfire 27 before Amit Mishra dismissed him.
At 293 for eight, Murali Kartik [22] joined Bhuvneshwar as the pair added 49 runs for the ninth wicket to take the score to 342 before the former gave a catch to Yuvraj Singh at first slip to become Mishra’s fourth victim.
With 110 runs still to get and a wicket in hand, it looked like a mere formality for North Zone to get a sizeable first innings lead but Bhuvneshwar and Rituraj defied all odds as they negotiated both pace and spin with aplomb.
While Mishra bowled 39 overs for his four wickets, the fact that he had given away 151 runs will certainly pinch him.
Another leggie Rahul Sharma was also rendered ineffective as he gave away 75 runs in his 26 wicketless over.
EAST ENJOY 152 RUNS LEAD OVER SOUTH
The first semifinal of the Duleep Trophy between defnding champions East Zone and South Zone is interestingly poised with the former scoring 126 for six in their second innings to enjoy a slender 152-run lead at stumps on day 3.
The East bowlers, led by Iresh Saxena and Samar Quadri, bowled out South Zone for 244 in 82.4 overs in their first innings to eke out a narrow 23-run lead.
However, the East batsmen failed to capitalise and lost six wickets for 129 runs at stumps at Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy stadium here.
With just four wickets left, it will be intestering to see how the East batsmen fair in the first hour of play.
If they fail to survive the initial moments, then South Zone’s Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey could take the game away from East.
Earlier, Qadri and Saxena picked up two wickets each and Ashoke Dinda claimed one as South Zone could add just 110 runs to their overnight score of 134-5, to end 23 runs behind East’s first innings score.
However, East played poor cricket in their second essay as barring skipper Natraj Behera [60], none of the batsmen could make any mark. Behera had eight fours in his 113-run innings to save the day.