North Zone advance to Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinal after taking 833-run lead vs Riyan Parag's East Zone, takes first-class average past 60

North Zone batters frustrated Riyan Parag's Easton Zone as they piled on runs in the Duleep Trophy 2025 quarter-final. North Zone captain Ankit Kumar missed his double ton by two runs, Yash Dhull scored 133 on Duleep Trophy debut whereas Ayush Badoni remained unbeaten for 204. North Zone took a huge 833-run lead before declaring. They won the match on the basis of first innings lead.

In the second innings, North Zone opener Shubham Khajuria was the only batter who missed out on a fifty before getting out. Ankit and Dhull shared a 250-run partnership for the second wicket. Premier pacer Mohammed Shami could not make an impact against the two. The partnership was broken by Parag by trapping Dhull in front of the wickets. He scored 133 runs from 157 balls, including 14 fours and three sixes. 

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East Zone's problems did not end as Ankit and Badoni shared a 150-run partnership for the third wicket. Mukhtar Hussain stopped Ankit from getting to his double ton. His 198 off 321 balls featured 19 fours and a six. Badoni batted with an ODI-like strike rate. Nishant Sidhu played second fiddle on the other end. He contributed with 68 runs from 91 balls. Badoni reached his double ton and remained unbeaten for 204 off 223 balls, including 13 fours and three sixes. North Zone scored 658/4 before declaring on Day 4.

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Badoni took his first-class average beyond 60 with his second double century in the format. North Zone will face Mohammed Azharuddeen-led South Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinal starting on September 4. 

North Zone get past 400, Manishi takes 6-fer

Earlier in the game, Parag won the toss and opted to bowl first. Several batters got good starts but none of them scored a century. Badoni and wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan went past the 50-run mark. For East Zone, Manishi took six wickets for 111 runs. Star pacer Shami's only scalp was Sahil Lotra.

Nabi’s double hat-trick

In reply to North Zone's 405, East Zone were bowled out for 230 in 56.1 overs. Auqib Nabi starred with a five-wicket haul, including a double hat-trick to wrap up the innings. Harshit Rana took a couple of wickets whereas Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Dagar and Sindhu got one wicket apiece.