North Zone, West Zone advance to Duleep Trophy semi-final on the basis of superior first innings total

West Zone went into Day 4 of the 1st quarter-final in Chennai with a massive 367-run lead over North East Zone, and nine wickets in hand. They had some good batting practice and reached 268/5 in 64.3 overs in their second innings when the game meandred to a draw.

In other quarter-final match, Yash Dhull's brilliant 193 helped North Zone went past East Zone's total.

Rahane's West Zone were 268/5 when the match ended as Atit Sheth struck an impressive 102 not out off 101 which was loaded with ten fours and one maximum. Shams Mulani too contributed with exquisite 97 off 115 for the West Zone. The duo added 179 runs for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, resuming on 12/1, West Zone lost three wickets and were reduced to 65/4. Rahul Tripathi and Hardik Tamore scored 24 each before being dismissed, while Chirag Jani was back in the hut for 4. For North East Zone, Dippu Sangma claimed 3/70 and Bishworjit Konthoujam 2/39.

West Zone opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was named Player of the Match in the 1st quarter-final of Duleep Trophy 2022. He smashed 228 off 321 balls in the first innings with the aid of 22 fours and three sixes.

Meanwhile in Puducherry, North, resuming on overnight 433/3, added a further 112 runs before being dismissed for 545. Himanshu Rana made 81 and captain Mandeep Singh hit a patient 63.

North Zone looked set for a huge total but the hard-working left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed came up with a five-wicket haul to restrict Mandeep Singh & Co.

Shahbaz Ahmed's scalps included Mandeep, Himanshu Rana, Nishant Sindhu. He ended the 131-run stand between Mandeep and Himanshu Rana which went a long way in helping East stop North's charge.

Earlier on Saturday, the talented Dhull hammered a superb 193 (243 balls, 28 fours, 2 sixes) to power North Zone's reply to East's first innings score of 397.