Duleep Trophy 2023: North Zone too good for sorry NEZone
Dominant North Zone outclassed North East Zone and have progressed to the semi-final of the 2023 Duleep Trophy. Jayant Yadav's men flexed their muscles and registered a 511-run win to clinch the quarter-final over North East Zone. The bowlers were exceptional for NZone in both innings as they bundled out NEZone for only 154 in the second innings to wrap up the match
How did the match pan out?
NEZone won the toss and invited NZone to bat first. Centuries from Dhruv Shorey, Nishant Sindhu and Harshit Rana helped them post 540/8d. NEZone struggled against a quality bowling attack and could only manage 134. Siddarth Kaul and Pulkit Narang scalped three wickets apiece. In the second innings, NZone scored 259/6d as they set a target of 666. NEZone folded for only 154.
11th FC century for Shorey
NZone openers Shorey and Prashant Chopra added 80 runs after NEZone elected to field. However, the former and Ankit Kalsi departed in quick succession. Shorey then added crucial runs with Sindhu before taking NZONE past 200 runs. Shorey slammed his 11th FC hundred after lunch. Courtesy of his century, Shorey surpassed 3,825 runs in FC cricket in 51 matches.
Sindhu smokes a brilliant ton
North Zone all-rounder Sindhu smoked a brilliant ton against North East Zone. The youngster tackled the opposition's bowlers precisely and scored runs all over the park. His brilliance meant North Zone crossed the 350-run mark with four wickets remaining. Overall, this was Sindhu's third First-Class century. He has raced to 879 runs in 13 FC games at 41.85.
Rana slams his maiden First-Class century
Rana arrived in the middle after North Zone lost both Shorey and Narang at 372/7. However, Rana saved North Zone from a lower-order collapse and added a 104-run stand with Narang. The former then propelled them to 540/8 alongside Kaul (9*). Rana finally returned unbeaten on 122 off 86 balls, a knock laced with 12 fours and 9 fours.
Prabhsimran plays a fine hand
Prabhsimran Singh played a very important knock as NZone lost their openers cheaply. The youngster slammed his second First-Class fifty as he scored 69-ball 59 in the second innings. His knock was laced with nine fours and a maximum. He was dismissed by Imliwati Lemtur when NZone's score was 140/4. Prabhsimran, who scored 31 in the first innings, has raced to 779 FC runs.
Jayant and Ankit shine with the bat
North Zone skipper Jayant and his Haryana teammate Ankit Kumar played crucial knocks in the second innings. While Jayant remained 55* from 78 deliveries, Ankit was dismissed by Kishan Singha when he was on 70 from 101 balls. The duo took NZone beyond the 250-run mark as they eventually declared thereafter. Notably, this was Jayant's 12th First-Class fifty, besides three centuries.
Seven-wicket match haul for Narang
Off-spinner Narang was brilliant in both innings as he finished with exceptional match figures of 7/70. He scalped 3/27 in the first innings, while Kaul also took a three-fer. Narang returned in the second innings to be NZone's best bowler with figures of 4/43. The 29-year-old has snapped 81 wickets in 24 FC matches at an average of 26.17. This was his third four-fer.
