Duleep Trophy: West & North Zones advance to semifinals on foundation of first-innings lead

West Zone and North Zone secured semi-final berths within the Duleep Trophy by taking the first-innings lead of their matches towards North East Zone and East Zone respectively.

While West obtained a large 367-run lead over North East Zone on the M A Chidambaram Stadium and opted for batting follow on the fourth and ultimate day on Sunday, North rode on an excellent ton by debutant Yash Dhull (193) to overtake East Zone’s complete. The Ajinkya Rahane-led West Zone had been 268 for 5 when the match ended. Aith Sheth remained not out on 102 (101 balls, 10 fours, 1 six), and Shams Mulani fell for 97 (115 balls, 12 fours), because the match meandered to a draw. North East bowlers did lots higher within the second innings and had their opponent three down 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) eliminated Het Patel (7), Rahul Tripathi (24) and Hardik Tamore (24) to maintain the West batters in examine. In Puducherry, North, resuming on in a single day 433 for 3, added an additional 112 runs earlier than being dismissed for 545. Himanshu Rana made 81 and captain Mandeep Singh hit a affected person 63.

North Zone appeared set for an enormous complete however the hard-working left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed got here up with a five-wicket haul to limit Mandeep Singh & Co. Shahbaz Ahmed’s scalps included Mandeep, Himanshu Rana, Nishant Sindhu. He ended the 131-run stand between Mandeep and Himanshu Rana which went a good distance in serving to East cease North’s cost. Earlier on Saturday, the gifted Dhull hammered an excellent 193 (243 balls, 28 fours, 2 sixes) to energy North Zone’s reply to East’s first innings rating of 397.

Brief scores:

At Puducherry: East Zone 397 all out in 136.4 overs (Virat Singh 117) and 102 for 3 drew with North Zone 545 all out in 148.5 overs (Yash Dhull 193, Dhruv Shorey 81, Mandeep Singh 63, Himanshu Rana 62, Manan Vohra 44, Shahbaz Ahmed 5 for 86). (North took first- innings lead and certified) At 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 (Atit Sheth 102 not out, Shams Mulani 97, Dippu 3 for 70, Bishworjit 2 for 39) drew with North East Zone 235 all out in 81.5 overs (Ankur Malik 81, Ashish Thapa 43, Hokaito Zhimono 32, Jaydev Unadkat 3 for 35, Chintan Gaja 4 for 38). (West took first-innings lead and certified).