West put up spirited fightback

West put up spirited fightback
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

NAGPUR, January 6: West Zone gave a spirited reply to Central Zone’s first innings total of 536 by making 364 for the loss of six wickets in their first innings on the third day of the ongoing four-day Duleep Trophy cricket match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground here on Saturday.

West Zone should be thankful to the third wicket partnership of 136 between Jacob Martin (121) and Test discard Wasim Jaffer (94) for them to have any hopes of snatching the all important first innings lead.

West Zone started the day with the score reading 94 for two with Jaffar on 52 and Martin on 25. Both the batsmen played the Central Zone bowlers with ease and saw that the West Zone did not lose another wicket in the morning session.

Once they got the hold of the wicket and bowling, they both went from strength to strength. While Martin scored a superb century, Jaffer was unlucky to miss the coveted 100 run mark by a whisker. He fell six short of what would have been a superb ton.

Stylish Jaffer was the first batsmen to be dismissed. Central Zone skipper Amay Khurasiya gave the ball to Kumani Parida after the medium pacers were rendered ineffective on the slow turner wicket of the VCA. Parida immediately got the breakthrough. Jaffer played a bit early only to spoon the ball to substitute Devendra Bundela. Jaffer made 94 of 168 balls with 15 hits to the fence. At lunch, West Zone were 234 for three.

After the dismissal of Jaffar, Martin found an able ally in the form of Abhijit Kale. He along with Kale went on to add 116 for the fourth wicket. Kale also fell victim to Parida. He made 49 with the help of 5 fours. Much was expected from Nayan Mongia, West Zone skipper who is trying to make a comeback to the National team but, he could not last long and got out for a poor score of 3.

While Kale and Mongia departed at the other end Martin was holding firm. But the dismissal of two batsmen in quick succession rattled Martin and he was caught by Raja Ali off Rahul Kanwat. His 121 included 19 boundaries while he was at the wicket for 294 minutes, during which he faced 195 balls. Martin’s was the last wicket to fall on Saturday.

Neeraj Patel and Sairaj Bahutule then frustrated the Central Zone attack and no further damage was done. They both have combined to add 64 for the seventh wicket partnership which will resume on Sunday. Patel is batting on 41 while Bahutule has 17 to his credit.

Brief scores: Central Zone: 536 vs West Zone: 364-6 (Jacob Martin 121, Wasim Jaffer 94, Abhijit Kale 49; Rahul Kanwat 3-75).

South on backfoot
VIJAYAWADA: Despite superb centuries by skipper VVS Laxman (179) and night watchman T Kumaran (106) South-Zone were still not out of the woods as they ended the day at 372 for six, still needing 187 to avoid the follow on, on the penultimate day of the four- day Duleep Trophy league tie against defending champions North-Zone here on Saturday.

Resuming at 41 for two, in reply to North-Zone’s mammoth 708 , South-Zone made a smart recovery reaching 351 for three, after Kumaran, who came as the night watchman at the fall of s Ramesh’s wicket on Friday, ably supported his skipper adding 238 for the third wicket in 256 minutes. Hemang Badani (44) who came at the fall of Kumaran’s wicket added 80 runs with Laxman for the fourth wicket as South-zone raised a fightback.

Brief scores: North Zone: 708 for 8 decl. vs South Zone: 372-6 (T Kumaran 106, VVS Laxman 179, Hemang Badani 44; Surinder Singh 4-95).