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Central Zone thrashes North Zone

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

ON SONG: R.P. Singh’s five-wicket burst helped Central Zone beat North Zone.

Bangalore: R.P. Singh scythed through North Zone’s top-order and helped Central Zone register a 70-run victory in the Prof. D.B. Deodhar Trophy tournament match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

Recalled to the Indian Test squad after recovering from a right hamstring injury, R.P. Singh (five for 36) left North hopping at zero for three while trailing Central’s 293 that was crafted on opener Naman Ojha’s 110.

Sehwag sizzles

North never recovered and though skipper Virender Sehwag scored a buccaneering 81 (72b, 11x4, 3x6) and the tail wagged a bit through Uday Kaul (55) and Amit Mishra (43), their efforts proved futile. R.P. Singh steamed in from the BEML end and off the third delivery of his first over, had Shikhar Dhawan snicking. Two deliveries later, he had Gautam Gambhir guide one to the close-in cordon and off the next delivery, knocked back the stumps as Rajat Bhatia missed the line while attempting to drive.

The disaster siren was buzzing in the North dressing room and with Akash Chopra finding his pads ruffled, it was left to Sehwag to do the rescue-act. Sehwag flexed his forearms and flicked Sandeep Singh and then cut Praveen Kumar.

He then smote Praveen over mid-wicket and square-leg and had a reprieve on 79.

He, however, failed to cash in and fell soon. The rest, barring Kaul and Mishra, caved in.

Earlier, Ojha (110, 132b, 10x4) and Faiz Fazal (66) shared a 163-run opening partnership after Sehwag opted to bowl. Ojha punched Pradeep Sangwan and hastened the tempo with a six off Amit Mishra.

He, however, slowed down after Fazal’s dismissal and while nearing his century.

And with Suresh Raina (42) and skipper Md. Kaif (34 n.o.) chipping in, Central posted a huge total.

Central Zone gained five points, inclusive of a bonus point while North suffered a minus point.

The scores: Central Zone: Faiz Fazal c Uda Kaul b Sehwag 66, Naman Ojha c Kaul b Manpreet Gony 110, S. Raina c Vikramjit Mallik b Pradeep Sangwan 42, Md. Kaif (not out) 34, Praveen Kumar (not out) 13; Extras (b-2, lb-5, nb-8, w-13): 28; Total: 293 (for three in 50 overs).

Fall of wickets: 1-163, 2-229, 3-266.

North Zone bowling: Sangwan 10-0-67-1, Mallik 9-1-49-0, Bhatia 2-0-21-0, Gony 10-0-45-1, Mishra 10-0-48-0, Sehwag 9-0-56-1.

North Zone: Akash Chopra lbw b R.P. Singh 11, S. Dhawan c N. Ojha b R.P. Singh 0, G. Gambhir c Rohit Sharma b R.P. Singh 0, R. Bhatia b R.P. Singh 0, V. Sehwag lbw Sandeep Singh 81, V. Kohli b Sandeep Singh 16, U. Kaul b S. Raina 55, Amit Mishra c Ojha b Praveen Kumar 43, P. Sangwan lbw R.P. Singh 4, V. Mallick b P. Chawla 0, M. Gony (not out) 1; Extras: (lb-3, w-9) 12; Total: (all out in 42.2 overs) 223.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-12, 5-60, 6-152, 7-210, 8-219, 9-220.

Central Zone bowling: Praveen Kumar 8-1-45-1, R.P. Singh 7.2-1-36-5, Sandeep Singh 9-2-43-2, Murali Kartik 4-0-15-0, Piyush Chawla 10-0-63-1, S. Raina 4-2-18-1.

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