The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Central has North on the ropes

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Thursday, Oct 26, 2006
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Central has North on the ropes

Sports Reporter

Palakkad: Central was struggling at 86 for five in its second essay after conceding a 123-run lead in the Jacob Trophy State senior inter-zonal cricket championship at the Fort Maidan on Wednesday.

Overnight 90 for one, Central had a disastrous start to the second day's play, losing five quick wickets. But a 73-run partnership between wicketkeeper C.M. Deepak (40) and Anil Kumar (37) for the eighth wicket and a quickfire unbeaten 62 (50b, 12x4) by Prasanth Chandran saw the team reach 299. Left-arm spinner C.P. Shahid struck form yet again with a five-wicket haul.

Needing 124 to save the embarrassment of an innings defeat, North's openers Jigeesh and Diju Das showed sparks of a fight back with the former smashing a couple of boundaries off the new ball bowlers. But after his dismissal the others failed to apply themselves to the task.

With North's wicketkeeper Ibrahim Kutty ruled out due to a shoulder injury, Central needs just four wickets on Thursday to finish the championship on a winning note.

The scores: North 176 & 86 for five in 23.2 overs vs. Central 299 in 93.5 overs (Abhinav 53, Prasanth Chandran 62 n.o., C.M. Deepak 40, C.P.

Shahid five for 83). — Sports Reporter

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