How Did Central Zone Secure Their Spot in the Duleep Trophy Final?
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Synopsis
The Central Zone cricket team has made it to the final of the Duleep Trophy by taking the lead in their semi-final against West Zone. Their impressive innings showcased solid performances, paving the way for a thrilling final against South Zone.
Key Takeaways
- Central Zone advances to the final of the Duleep Trophy.
- Key performers include Shubham Sharma and Saransh Jain.
- They secured a lead of 162 runs in the semi-final.
- The final will be against South Zone starting on September 11.
- West Zone's innings saw significant contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Bengaluru, Sep 7 (NationPress) Central Zone has advanced to the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy final after achieving a first-innings lead in their semi-final match against West Zone at the BCCI CoE Ground 2 on Sunday. This victory sets up a showdown against South Zone, scheduled to begin on September 11.
Key contributions came from Shubham Sharma, Upendra Yadav, Harsh Dubey, captain Rajat Patidar, and Saransh Jain, who helped Central Zone post a formidable 600 runs in 164.3 overs, resulting in a substantial lead of 162 runs.
In response, West Zone, having little to lose, managed to score 216/8 in 53.3 overs during their second innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 64 runs, while Tanush Kotian remained not out at 60. On the bowling side, Saransh and Dubey excelled with figures of 5-84 and 3-96, respectively.
Resuming from a position of 556/8, Central Zone added quick runs with Yash Thakur hitting five boundaries in a rapid 21 before being dismissed by Arzan Nagaswalla. Saransh counter-attacked effectively, reaching his half-century before being dismissed by Khaleel Ahmed, as Central Zone concluded at 600, securing a lead of 162 runs that virtually guaranteed their place in the final.
In their reply, the West Zone openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Aarya Desai formed a partnership of 62 runs until Desai was stumped off Saransh's bowling. Harvik Desai was ruled out due to a quadriceps injury, and Saurabh Nawale stepped in but was bowled by Saransh for nine runs.
Jaiswal reached his half-century off 57 deliveries but was dismissed for 64 by Dubey, who also claimed the wicket of first-innings centurion Ruturaj Gaikwad for 16 runs. Despite gaining a lead, West Zone continued to lose wickets. Saransh dismissed Shams Mulani and Shreyas Iyer, while Kotian and Tushar Deshpande provided some resistance with a 37-run partnership.
However, Dubey struck again, dismissing Deshpande, and Saransh secured his fifth wicket by having Shardul Thakur caught behind just before tea. With no time left for a decisive result, both captains agreed to conclude the match in a draw.
Brief Scores: West Zone 438 and 216/8 in 53.3 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 64, Tanush Kotian 40 not out; Saransh Jain 5-84, Harsh Dubey 3-96) drew Central Zone 600 in 164.3 overs (Shubham Sharma 96, Upendra Yadav 87; Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 4-130, Arzan Nagwaswalla 3-57)
Point of View
The performance of Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy showcases the depth and talent within Indian cricket. Their ability to maintain composure and deliver under pressure reflects a growing trend in competitive cricket, making them a formidable opponent as they head into the finals.
NationPress
07/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Duleep Trophy?
The Duleep Trophy is a first-class cricket tournament in India, featuring teams representing different zones of the country.
When is the final match scheduled?
The final match of the Duleep Trophy is scheduled to begin on September 11, 2025.
Which teams are competing in the final?
Central Zone will compete against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final.
