Baroda: Seasoned campaigners Ramesh Powar and Sairaj Bahutule, bowling in tandem from the 48th over to 82.4, showed skill and perseverance to skittle out South Zone for a meagre 219 in the Duleep Trophy `A' group league match at the Motibagh Palace Ground here on Thursday.

The duo vindicated the West Zone captain's decision to invite the opponent to bat first, although the calculated choice was meant to give the likes of Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel the advantage of exploiting the freshness of the surface.

Both captured a wicket each in their opening exertions before the spinners came into the picture.

After West had completed a satisfactory work in muggy atmosphere, Laxmipathy Balaji struck two quick blows removing the local players, opener Satyajit Parab and nightwatchman Rakesh Patel.

It was a smart work by Dhiraj Jadhav within the square that ended a potentially strong effort from Robin Uthappa and Munaf Patel's express delivery that restricted V.V.S. Laxman's tenure in the middle to just 19 minutes and 18 balls that brought in enormous pressure on South Zone.

Munaf impressive

Right through his three short spells, Munaf was impressive, bowling at speeds in excess of 140 kmph. Uthappa showed good skill, technique, temperament and patience while facing Munaf and Zaheer Khan, and struck the first boundary shot of the South innings only in the 111th ball and followed it up with a mighty six off Powar in the 114th.

Unfortunately, he departed from the scene when in good nick and a few minutes later Laxman was back in the pavilion leaving Sridharan Sriram and Hemang Badani to focus on repair work.

Sriram defended stoutly and guarded his wicket for four hours and ten minutes to make 43, while Badani played for a little over one and half hours to compile 42.

Once Parab, at slip, snapped up Sriram to break the 81-run stand for the fourth wicket, South's innings declined with wickets falling at regular intervals.

Dinesh Kaarthick brought about a refreshing change trying to dominate from the outset and make a useful contribution.

Shahabuddin all at sea against Bahutule clouted Powar far beyond the long boundary twice and Balaji hammered the off spinner before swinging the leg spinner to Jadhav in the deep.

In reply, Balaji, leading the team back into the dressing room with two for 2 figures, shattered Parab's stumps and forced a nick off Rakesh Patel's bat.

The scores:

South Zone — Ist innings: R. Uthappa run out (Jadhav) 30, S. Asnodkar c N. Patel b Khan 0, S. Sriram c Parab b Bahutule 43, V.V.S. Laxman b M. Patel 7, H. Badani lbw b Bahutule 42, Anirudh Singh st. Parthiv b Powar 7, D. Kaarthick st. Parthiv b Powar 34, K. Shahabuddin c Parthiv b Powar 16, R. Ramkumar b Powar 2, L. Balaji c Jadhav b Bahutule 19, P. Ojha not out 1, Extras (b-1, lb-5, nb-10, w-2) 18. Total (in 82. 4 overs) 219.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-43, 3-54, 4-135, 5-142, 6-156, 7-185, 8-189, 9-202.

West Zone bowling: Zaheer 15-2-32-1, Munaf 12-4-20-1, R. Patel 10-2-18-0, Powar 27-9-78-4, Bahutule 18.4-1-65-3.

West Zone — Ist innings: D. Jadhav (batting) 0, S. Parab b Balaji 1, R. Patel c Kaarthick b Balaji 1, Extras (lb 1, w 1) 2. Total (for two wkts in 4.4 overs) 4.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-4

South Zone bowling: Balaji 2.4-0-2-2, Shahabuddin 2-1-1-0

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail