Duleep Trophy
Bengaluru, Sep 4: Narayan Jagadeesan and Ruturaj Gaikwad produced innings of contrasting flair to put South Zone and West Zone in commanding positions on the opening day of their respective Duleep Trophy semi-finals here on Thursday.
At the BCCI-CEG Ground, Jagadeesan remained unbeaten on 148 as South Zone posted 297 for three against North Zone. The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter, who recently earned his maiden India call-up during the Oval Test against England, faced 260 balls studded with 13 boundaries and two sixes. He shared a 103-run stand with Tanmay Agarwal (43) and added 128 with Devdutt Padikkal (57), showing a blend of patience and controlled aggression through the 81 overs bowled in the day.Jagadeesan had a stroke of luck early when he edged pacer Anshul Kamboj only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. Thereafter, he settled in smoothly, shifting gears after his half-century to dominate left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar, against whom he struck two sixes and three fours. Padikkal, meanwhile, fell to Kamboj just before lunch, while Mohit Kale was dismissed by Nishant Sindhu, but South remained in a strong position thanks to Jagadeesan’s composure.
Over at the Centre of Excellence ‘B’ Ground, Gaikwad crafted a brilliant 184 to steer West Zone to 363 for six against Central Zone. Walking in with his side tottering at 10 for two, the Maharashtra batter stitched a 90-run partnership with Aarya Desai (39) and later forged a decisive 148-run sixth-wicket stand with Tanush Kotian (65*).Gaikwad, who had scored a century in the Buchi Babu tournament last month, continued his rich vein of form. His innings, laced with 23 fours, came off just 206 balls, marked by fluent cuts and late strokes against the spinners. He paced his knock superbly, bringing up his hundred in 131 balls before racing past 150 in 178 deliveries. Just when a maiden first-class double hundred seemed inevitable, he was stumped while attempting an adventurous charge against Saransh Jain.
Despite his dismissal, West held the upper hand as Kotian and skipper Shardul Thakur (24*) guided them safely to stumps.
With Jagadeesan and Gaikwad both standing tall, the opening day of the semifinals belonged to the batters, leaving North and Central Zones with plenty to ponder going into the second day’s play. (PTI)
