[1]The proceedings in the Duleep Trophy final between Central and East Zone were yet again marred by overnight rains as only a meagre quota of 34 overs were possible on the fourth day at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.
In reply to East’s first innings score of 232, Central took the safety first route to reach 74 for two in 36 overs.
Left-handed opener Tanmay Srivatsava is holding Central’s innings together with a meticulously constructed 46 (126b, 5x4). Robin Bist, who is yet to open his account, is the other batsman at the crease.
Tanmay’s overnight partner Vineet Saxena and skipper Mohammad Kaif were the batsmen out.
Needing a further 159 runs with eight wickets in the bank to gain the all-important first-innings lead; the equation tips the balance in favour of the Central unit.
However, left-arm spinner Iresh Saxena grabbing a couple of wickets at the fag-end of the day has spiced up the contest.
Vineet (22, 75b, 4x4), who had gone into a shell, stepped out and carted Iresh to the midwicket boundary in order to break the shackles.
However, the Rajasthan batsman while trying to repeat the stroke off the very next delivery holed out to mid-on where Basant Mohanty juggled around before completing the catch in his fourth attempt. In inadequate lighting conditions, Kaif failed to read a straighter one which came in quicker through the air.
“After packing off their top two batsmen, the mood in our camp is upbeat. We will come out firing on all cylinders tomorrow. Even against South Zone in the semis, we were in a spot of bother but we fought hard to wriggle out of the situation. We are confident to do the same against Central. The wicket too has slowed down considerably more to our liking.
They (Central) would have to bat well to overtake our tally, “noted Iresh on the other hand, the Central camp was buzzing with excitement. One of their players was overheard telling his teammate: “It won't be surprising if we overtake their total within the first two sessions.”
SCOREBOARD: East Zone (1st innings): D. Jadhav lbw b Jalaj 25, N. Behera c Bhuvneshwar b Jalaj 22, A.Majumdar c Jalaj b Bhuvneshwar 13, I. Jaggi (not out) 100, I. Saxena b Jalaj 16, S. Tiwary c Rawat b Kartik 0, B. Samantray c Kartik b Jalaj 0, S.P. Gautam c Rawat b Praveen 34, B. Mohanty c Rawat b Pandey 2, A. Dinda b Pandey 0, A.Mangaraj b Jalaj 3. Extras (b5, lb5, w1, nb6): 17. Total (in 101.5 overs): 232.
FoW: 1-44, 2-55, 3-64, 4-113, 5-116, 6-117, 7-174, 8-190, 9-190.
Bowling: Praveen 21-8-41-1, Bhuvneshwar 13-5-37-1, Ishwar 197-59-2, Jalaj 28.5-6-62-5, Kartik 2010-23-1.
Central Zone (1st innings): T.Srivastava (batting) 46, V. Saxena c Mohanty b Iresh 22, M Kaif lbw b Iresh 2, R. Bist (batting) 0. Extras (nb4): 4. Total (for two wickets in 36 overs) 74.
FoW: 1-68, 2-74.
Bowling: Dinda 9-3-24-0, Basant 103-18-0, Iresh 8-1-23-2, Mangaraj 84-9-0, Samantray 1-1-0-0.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/duleep-edited0jpgcropdisplayjpg-806