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South seizes the initiative

Nandakumar Marar

— Photo: S. Subramanium

FOXED: North Zone skipper Akash Chopra played the wrong line to a delivery from M. Suresh and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik did the rest.

RAJKOT: Spinners R. Ashwin and M. Suresh cashed in on concentration lapses by batsmen on a Rajkot wicket playing true to reputation of being a heartbreak for bowlers, on the second day of Duleep Trophy knockout tie. South Zone maintained its momentum after putting up 548 in the first innings by grabbing quick wickets to break North Zone’s resistance.

Shikhar Dhawan jabbed at a delivery from Ashwin and Abhinav Mukund at silly point completed a reflex catch. Aakash Chopra played away from his body against Suresh, missed the line and Dinesh Karthik whipped off the bails. Rahul Diwan (81 off 132 balls, 14 fours) tested S. Badrinath’s arm from the deep and got run out going for the third run and North’s hopes of building on an 82-run first wicket stand crumbled. The score at stumps was 172 for three — 376 runs behind.

South fast bowlers toiled in vain, L. Balaji’s and R. Vinay Kumar’s spells with the new ball made no impact on Dhawan and Diwan, the North openers driving fluently through the line. Sameer Bandekar tried his medium-pace and Robin Uthappa bowled off a short run-up but the flow of runs continued.

Diwan caught the eye with compact style — balanced at the crease and languid in his strokes. The Delhi youngster, who now plays for Haryana, looked set for a Duleep Trophy century on his debut season in first-class cricket when the run out happened.

North Zone has an uphill task now. Run-making is easy but the sheer volume of runs to be made is the intimidating factor.

The scores: South Zone — 1st innings: A. Mukund lbw b Malik 10, R. Uthappa lbw b Gony 1, S. Badrinath c Kaul b Gony 200, R. Dravid b Mishra 138, D. Karthik lbw b Mishra 4, A. Yadav b Malik 70, R. Ashwin lbw b Malik 17, M. Suresh c Diwan b Gony 17, Vinay Kumar c Dhawan b Awana 29, S. Bandekar c&b Mishra 8, L. Balaji (not out) 21, Extras (lb-5, nb-27, w-1) 33; Total (in 130.2 overs) 548.

Fall of wkts: 1-13, 2-13, 3-325, 4-331, 5-407, 6-441,7-479, 8-503, 9-515.

North bowling: Gony 24-2-90-3, Malik 32-3-136-3, Bhatia 13-1-52-0, Awana 22.2-2-81-1, Mishra 37-2-164-3, Kohli 3-0-16-0, Dewan 1-0-4-0.

North Zone — 1st innings: R. Diwan run out 81, S. Dhawan c Mukund b Ashwin 37, A. Chopra st Karthik b Suresh 17, S. Sohal (batting) 19, U. Kaul (batting) 16, Extras (nb-2) 2; Total (for three in 47 overs) 172.

Fall of wkts: 1-82, 2-135, 3-137

South bowling: Balaji12-1-46-0, Vinay Kumar 10-3-41-0, Uthappa 2-0-13-0, Bandekar 5-1-18-0, Ashwin 11-3-26-1, Suresh 7-2-28-1.

Corrections and Clarifications

In a report "South seizes the initative" ("Sport", January 31, 2009) the number of overs sent down by North was 130.2 overs, as given in the scoreboard. There was a mix-up in the bowling analysis break up. Awana bowled only 20.2 overs and not 22.2, as published.

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