GUWAHATI, JAN 19: Underdogs Central Zone notched up a facile five-wicket victory over star-studded North Zone in the Deodhar Trophy cricket tournament played at the Railway Stadium here today.

A brilliant 90-run partnership between Amay Khurasia (66) and Mohammod Kaif (51) took the match out of North's grasp while at the other end Debendra Bundela scored yet another half century to hammer the last nail into North's coffin which boasted as many as eight India capped players led by old warhorse Navjot Singh Siddhu.

Amay Khurasia celebrated his call to the World Cup probables camp with a scintillating innings which included nine hits to the fence. He was aided by Kaif and some sloppy fielding by North players to recover from early setbacks. Central lost their opener when the score was just 27.

Shewag removed Amay Khurasia when Robin Singh (jr) held on to a sitter after a lot of fumbling but the next man Debendra Bundela showed scant respect to Rahul Sangvi and Harbhajan Singh inparticular.

Harbhajan was hit out of the attack while Rahul Sanghvi gave away as many as 48 runs in his allotted overs. But Harbhajan will surely like to forget the match. Not only was his bowling off target, he also dropped at least two easy catches.

Earlier, electing to bat first on a moist pitch, North began well with the opening pair putting up 51 runs. Wicket-keeper Vijay Dahia was the first to go when Khoda took a good catch off Zaidi. Captain Vikram Rathore also did not last long but India opener Siddhu, coming at number three, played a patient innings of 43 balls off 94 balls with just three boundaries.

Once Preetam Gandhe picked up the prized wicket of Siddhu, the floodgates opened and none of the North batsmen could provide a solid innings.

Veteran Ajay Sharma too went for just five runs but Pankaj Dharmani (32) and Virender Shewang (37) put some respectability before Gyanendra Pandey produced a devastating spell of five for 44 runs.

He first dismissed Pankaj and then wiped out the tail asNorth batsmen went for big shots only to be caught in the deep.

The match was reduced to 46 overs due to delayed start because of moisture in the pitch.

Scoreboard

North Zone: Vijay Dahia c Gagan Khoda b Zaidi 13, Vikram Rathore c & b JP Yadav 37, NS Sidhu c JP Yadav b Preetam Gandhe 43, Ajay Sharma b JP Yadav 5, Pankaj Dharmani c & b Gyanendra Pandey 32, Virendra Shewag c & b Sanjay Bangur 37, RS Sodhi c Gagan Khoda b Pandey 15, Rahul Sanghvi c Sanjay b Pandey 4, Harvinder Singh c Yadav b Pandey 6, Harbhajan Singh b Pandey 1, Robin Singh (jr) not out 1. Extras: 10, 4, : 23.

Total (45.2 overs): 217

Fall of wickets:1-51, 2-79, 3-95, 4-139, 5-174, 6-197, 7-206, 8-213, 9-216.

Bowling: JP Yadav 10-0-29-2, AW Zaidi 7-0-24-1, Debendra Bundela 1-0-15-0, M Kartik 9-0-33-0, Gyanendra Pandey 8.2-0-44-5, Preetam Gandhe 3-0-22-1, Sanjay Bangur 7-0-40-1.

Central Zone: JP Yadav b Rajinder Singh Sodhi 7, Gagan Khoda c Sangvi b Harvinder 5, Amay Khurasia c Robin Singh b Shewag 66, MKaif c Shewag b Sanghvi 51, Sanjay Bangur c Ajay Sharma b Sanghvi 6, Debendra Bundela not out 51, Gyanendra Pandey not out 17.

Extras : 3, 122:16.

Total (for 5 wickets, 44.5 overs):219

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-24, 3-118, 4-122, 5-182

Bowling: Harbinder Singh 7-0-33-1, RS Sodhi 6-1-17-1, Robin Singh (jr) 6-0-28-0, Harbhajan Singh 9-0-51-0, V Shewag 6.5-0-38-0, Rahul Sanghvi 10-0-48-2.