Duleep Trophy: Central Zone seal semifinal spot on 1st innings supremacy after clash against North East Zone concluded in draw

Central Zone secured their spot in the Duleep Trophy semifinals, thanks to a decisive first-innings lead over North East Zone. While North East Zone battled bravely to deny them an outright victory, the match ended in a draw.

Central Zone advance to Duleep Trophy semifinals

Chasing a massive target of 679 runs on the final day, North East Zone managed to put up 200 for six before time ran out. Central Zone's dominance was established early on when they posted a commanding 532 for four in their first innings. They then bowled out their opponents for a meager 185, earning a crucial first-innings lead of 347 runs. Central Zone later declared their second innings at 331 for seven, setting an improbable target for their opponents.

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In their second innings, the North East Zone batsmen adopted a cautious approach, focusing on survival. Wicketkeeper-batter Jehu Anderson scored a fighting half-century with 64 runs off 96 balls, while skipper Rongsen Jonathan contributed with 60 runs off 97 balls. Their resilient partnership frustrated the Central Zone bowlers throughout the day. Despite their efforts, Central Zone started the final day strong, quickly reducing North East Zone to 40 for two within the first 15 overs. Young left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey was particularly effective, claiming the wicket of opener Karnajit Yumnam for 17 runs in the 14th over.

The North East Zone's innings started on a shaky note, as the team's openers faced a challenging opening spell from the Central Zone's pacers. Despite the pressure, Manipur-born cricketer Karnajit Yumnam and his senior partner, Techi Doria, showed resilience by building a 40-run partnership. However, their stand was short-lived, as both openers fell in quick succession. Doria was the first to depart, dismissed on the very first ball of the 15th over by pacer Aditya Thakare, who finished with figures of 2 for 21.

With the team struggling at 40 for 2, things looked bleak for North East Zone. The situation worsened when Thakare struck again to remove Ashish Thapa, leaving the team at 66 for 3. However, the batsmen refused to give up. Young Jehu Anderson and veteran Rongsen Jonathan—who has played for Karnataka, Nagaland, and Railways—put their heads together and built a defining 110-run partnership. The pair's composed and determined play frustrated the Central Zone bowlers, as they successfully guided their team to a draw despite the overwhelming odds. Anderson's knock included 11 boundaries and a six, while the 38-year-old Jonathan hit nine fours.