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North takes vital first innings lead

Nandakumar Marar

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

CREDITABLE SHOW: Siddharth Trivedi proved quite a handful for North.

MUMBAI: V.R.V. Singh’s slam-bang batting (33, 41b) clinched a 66-run lead for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy final.

Wielding the willow like a machete he caught West Zone bowlers off-guard to steal the show at the Wankhede stadium, eclipsing paceman Siddharth Trivedi’s six for 67 and wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel’s six victims (five catches, one stumping) on day two.

North’s first innings ended at 340, with runs coming in cascades towards the end as No. 10 Ashok Thakur (33 off 57 balls) and last man VRV went to work.

Rajat Bhatia (84, 158b, 9x4, 1x6) emphasised his utility value, partnering the gritty Yashpal Singh in a 128-run stand for the fifth wicket to steady North following Trivedi’s early blows.

Early strike

The Gujarat bowler, relishing the early morning conditions like VRV had done in his second spell on the opening day, removed Aakash Chopra with the first ball of the day and then broke through Shikhar Dhawan’s defence in the same over.

North stumbled to 97 for four when Trivedi, in an inspired spell, sent back Karan Goel and captain Mithun Manhas. Parthiv Patel snapped up both catches.

The scores: West Zone — 1st innings: 274.

North Zone — 1st innings: Aakash Chopra c Pujara b Trivedi 35, Shikhar Dhawan b Trivedi 30, Karan Goel c Parthiv b Trivedi 0, Mithun Manhas c Parthiv b Trivedi 26, Yashpal Singh c Jobanputra b Trivedi 59, Rajat Bhatia c Makda b Trivedi 84, Uday Kaul c Parthiv b Dhruv 15, Amit Mishra c Parthiv b Trivedi 15, Vikramjit Malik c Parthiv b Jobanputra 3, Ashok Thakur (not out) 33, V.R.V. Singh st. Parthiv b Dhruv 33; Extras (lb-4, w-3) 7. Total (all out in 100 overs) 340.

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-53, 3-88, 4-97, 5-225, 6-249, 7-268, 8-271, 9-274.

West bowling: Siddharth Trivedi 27-6-67-6, Ashraf Makda 17-5-55-0, Yusuf Pathan 12-0-54-0, Rakesh Dhruv 24-3-87-3, Sandip Jobanputra 20-4-73-1.

West Zone — 2nd innings: Wasim Jaffer (batting) 0, Sahil Kukreja (batting) 0; Extras (nb-1, lb-1) 2. Total (two overs) two for no loss.

North bowling: V.R.V. Singh 1-0-1-0, Vikramjit Malik 1-1-0-0.

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