Duleep Trophy 2023: Central Zone has East Zone, needing 300 for a win, on the mat

Central Zone was in control on day three of the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal against East Zone at the Alur (1) Cricket Ground. After failing to build on its openers’ solid effort between three fiery spells from Ishan Porel, Central folded up for 239 in its second innings. It set up a 300-run target before Saurabh Kumar (four for 33) gnawed at the East top-order, leaving it 69 for six at stumps.

Central Zone was in the driving seat on day three of the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal against East Zone at the Alur (1) Cricket Ground here on Friday.

After failing to build on its openers’ solid effort amidst three fiery spells from Ishan Porel, Central folded up for 239 in its second essay. It set up a 300-run target before Saurabh Kumar (four for 33) gnawed at the East top-order, leaving it 69 for six at stumps.

On a deck that retained its hardness, the East batters failed to apply themselves again. Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings, fell for 11 as he misread Saurabh and ceded control over his stump. Saurabh continued his procession after Anustup Majumdar and Shahbaz Ahmed were left displeased with umpire Mohit Krishnadas’ decisions that had them adjudged leg-before and caught-behind respectively.

Opener Shantanu Mishra’s stoic 82-ball 18 was ruined by Saurabh, who found a healthy edge to wicketkeeper Upendra Yadav. With minutes left to play, Central captain Shivam Mavi landed another blow by dismissing Kumar Kushagra for a pair in the match.

The morning session was split between Central’s openers and Porel who bowled his heart out on a flat deck. While Himanshu Mantri and Vivek Singh lifted the team to 124 with the first pair of half-centuries in the match, Porel held one end tight, conceding just six in his first four-over spell. The Bengal seamer then uprooted Vivek’s leg-stump before Shahbaz Nadeem prized out Mantri on 68 before lunch.

Porel’s remarkable control bore fruition in another outstanding spell when he trapped Upendra Yadav and Saurabh off successive deliveries. Central’s middle-order meltdown — from 182 for four to 201 for eight — gave hope to Easwaran’s men. However, a sensible hand from Saransh Jain (32 n.o., 60b, 2x4) doused hopes of a seamless cruise through the tail, eventually setting up a daunting chase for East.

The scores: Central Zone — 1st innings: 182.