Duleep Trophy: Abid Mushtaq's 9 for 99 sinks West Zone, North advance by 52 runs
Synopsis
Abid Mushtaq's 9-wicket haul across the match — capped by a second-ball strike on the final morning — unravelled West Zone's chase of 67 from 6.3 overs. With Arshdeep Singh returning to red-ball cricket and Anshul Kamboj anchoring the batting, North Zone's win was a collective effort on a pitch that turned the screws on every batter.
Key Takeaways
Abid Mushtaq claimed a combined 9 for 99 to power North Zone past West Zone by 52 runs in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final.
The match was played on a red-soil pitch at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru , which took 25 wickets to spin.
Arshdeep Singh returned to red-ball cricket after nearly a year, finishing with 4 wickets in the match.
Anshul Kamboj top-scored with 60 in the first innings and took key wickets to help North secure a 64-run first-innings lead .
North Zone will face Tilak Varma -led South Zone in the first semifinal from 30 August in Bengaluru.
East Zone will meet defending champions Central Zone (led by Rajat Patidar ) in the second semifinal.
Abid Mushtaq, Jammu & Kashmir's left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, delivered a match-defining performance with a combined 9 for 99 as North Zone eliminated Ruturaj Gaikwad-led West Zone by 52 runs in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on 26 August. The victory, sealed on the final morning of a five-day contest, sends North into the last four of the tournament.
How the Final Morning Unfolded
Entering the fifth day with West Zone requiring 67 runs and North needing 3 wickets, the match was exquisitely balanced. North had just 6.3 overs to finish the job. Mushtaq struck with the second ball of the morning, removing Tanush Kotian with a delivery that skidded low, beat the defence, and crashed into middle stump.
Tushar Deshpande, who holds a first-class best of 123, survived 17 deliveries before charging Mushtaq on the 18th. The drift around the stumps proved his undoing — an attempted heave produced an edge that Abdul Samad held at slip. Three balls later, Urvil Patel was trapped lbw for 25 attempting to attack Nishant Sindhu's left-arm spin, sealing North's win. West Zone had no review remaining to challenge the decision.
West Zone's Collapse After a Strong Platform
West had appeared well-placed at 211 for 4, buoyed by a century partnership between Musheer Khan and Gaikwad. Mushtaq's intervention dismantled that platform, triggering the collapse that ultimately cost West Zone the match. The red-soil pitch at the Centre of Excellence took 25 wickets to spin across the contest, making it a spinner's paradise throughout.
Key Contributors for North Zone
Arshdeep Singh, playing red-ball cricket for the first time in nearly a year, complemented Mushtaq with 4 wickets across the match — 3 of them in the first innings, where he troubled West's top order with late movement in both directions.
Anshul Kamboj was equally vital with bat and ball. He top-scored with 60 in the first innings, helping North recover from a precarious 161 for 7 to reach 251. Kamboj then removed Mumbai duo Shams Mulani and Kotian in quick succession with the old ball, helping North secure a 64-run first-innings lead. Ayush Badoni further consolidated North's advantage with his second consecutive half-century of the match.
Semifinal Line-Up
North Zone will face Tilak Varma-led South Zone in the first semifinal. In the other quarter-final, East Zone defeated North East Zone to set up a meeting with defending champions Central Zone, captained by Rajat Patidar, in the second semifinal. Both semifinals are scheduled at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from 30 August.
Point of View
Yet Mushtaq dismantled the chase almost single-handedly. Arshdeep Singh's four-wicket return to red-ball cricket after nearly a year is the subplot selectors will watch closely ahead of the Test season. North's depth — Kamboj batting at No. 8 and scoring 60, Badoni with back-to-back fifties — points to a squad with genuine balance, not just one match-winner.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Abid Mushtaq's figures in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final?
Abid Mushtaq claimed a combined 9 for 99 across both innings in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final between North Zone and West Zone in Bengaluru on 26 August. His bowling was the decisive factor as North Zone won by 52 runs.
Who won the Duleep Trophy quarter-final between North Zone and West Zone?
North Zone defeated West Zone by 52 runs in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The match was decided on the final morning of a five-day contest.
Who will North Zone face in the Duleep Trophy semifinals?
North Zone will face Tilak Varma -led South Zone in the first semifinal, scheduled from 30 August at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
What role did Arshdeep Singh play in North Zone's win?
Arshdeep Singh, playing red-ball cricket for the first time in nearly a year, took 4 wickets in the match — 3 in the first innings — troubling West Zone's top order with late movement in both directions.
What is the Duleep Trophy semifinal line-up?
The two semifinals will be played from 30 August in Bengaluru. North Zone face South Zone (led by Tilak Varma) in the first semi, while East Zone take on defending champions Central Zone, captained by Rajat Patidar, in the second.
