South Zone collapse around Vihari’s fifty in Duleep Trophy final

South Zone 182 for 7 (Vihari 63, Tilak 40, Mulani 2-19, Gaja 2-27) vs West Zone

West Zone took the honours on a rain-affected opening day of the Duleep Trophy last in Bengaluru. After electing to bowl, that they had South Zone in bother at 182 for 7 when unhealthy gentle ended play after a lot of the ultimate session was misplaced to the climate.

Sachin Child was finished in by flight as he chipped a catch to Suryakumar Yadav at quick midwicket. Shortly afterwards, with the tea interval looming, Vihari chopped on trying a minimize to an arm-ball that skid again in to crash into the stumps.

Washington Sundar and R Sai Kishore, the Tamil Nadu pair, had been on the crease trying to lend respectability to South’s rating when the gamers went off due to a drizzle that quickly changed into a downpour. And when play resumed, after two rain breaks, Sai Kishore obtained roughed up by the quick ball from Nagaswalla and was out caught within the gully.

Earlier within the morning, if ethical victories had been value any factors, Nagwaswalla would’ve gained all of them, with a fascinating opening spell the place he had the prolific pair of Mayank Agarwal and R Samarth in all kinds of bother in opposition to the swinging ball.

Nagwaswalla virtually beat Agarwal on the within edge, had him squaring as much as deliveries that held their line and had him driving uppishly too. However to his credit score, Agarwal weathered that early burst by making some changes, like batting properly exterior the crease after which taking one other step out to negate the late motion.

Samarth was the primary to go when he wafted at Gaja exterior off to nick one via to Harvik Desai, the wicketkeeper. Agarwal and Tilak Varma had been then put via a stern examination in opposition to the swinging ball. Watching two stroke-makers rein their pure instincts to occupy the crease made for compelling viewing within the first hour.

After setting store, Agarwal blew it with a free drive on 28 in opposition to Atit Sheth as Sarfaraz Khan pouched a superb catch at third slip. Solely two balls earlier, Agarwal had crashed a boundary via the covers off the same supply, however the one which obtained him was barely wider and shifting additional away from him.

Vihari and Tilak, the Hyderabad boys, then dug in. Tilak was susceptible to flashes of impatience and practically misplaced his wicket when he tried to loft Dharmendrasinh Jadeja’s left-arm spin however was fortunate that the mis-hit simply eluded mid-on. The lunch break then got here to his rescue.

The place Tilak was diffident and fidgety earlier than lunch, he was free-flowing after it. He started with a stunning punch via the covers off Nagwaswalla, however the celebration did not final lengthy. Like Samarth, he was out slashing to a fullish supply as Desai accomplished a advantageous catch diving to his left.

The wicketkeeper’s greatest work, although, was reserved for later when he threw himself full-stretch to his left, after taking a few steps, to catch Ricky Bhui down the leg facet, off Gaja. Along with his team-mates falling round him, Vihari started opening up and scoring much more freely, till a second’s indiscretion earlier than tea had him play on. That will be among the many pivotal moments of the day.