Patidar blasted 21 fours and three sixes en route his 96-ball 125 © BCCI North Zone vs East Zone Led by Ayush Badoni’s half-century (63) and handy contributions by Nishant Sindhu (47) and Kanhaiya Wadhawan (42*), North Zone posted 308 for 6 on the rain-marred opening day of their Duleep Trophy encounter against East Zone, in Bengaluru. Put in to bat, Shubham Khajuriya and Ankit Kumar provided a solid start, bracing through the first hour of play without damage, before left-arm spinner Manishi struck the first blow, trapping skipper Ankit leg-before on 30. Manishi was the most successful bowler on the opening day, also trapping Khajuriya and Yash Dhull in front. Badoni and Sindhu stitched a 61-run stand for the fourth wicket to again steady North Zone’s innings, but much like was the case throughout the day, East Zone kept striking at regular intervals. Mukhtar Hussain, Suraj Jaiswal and Mohammed Shami struck once each as none of the partnerships thereafter could flourish past the 52-run mark. Wadhawan and Mayank Dagar looked solid on the seventh wicket stand before rain and bad light forced an early end to the day’s play. Brief Scores: North Zone 308/6 (Ayush Badoni 63, Nishant Sindhu 47; Manishi 3-90) vs East Zone Central Zone vs North East Zone Centuries from Danish Malewar (198*) and Rajat Patidar (125), helped Central Zone post a massive 432 for 2 on the rain-affected opening day against Northeast Zone. Put in to bat, Central Zone suffered an early jolt with opener Aayush Pandey getting dismissed for 3. However, that was to be the last of their successes for several hours thereafter as Aryan Juyal and Malewar put on a century stand. Juyal retired hurt on 60, but that wasn’t to do much favours to Northeast. Malewar continued to pile on misery on their bowlers, next in the company of Patidar. Runs came thick and fast as Patidar blasted 21 boundaries and three sixes en route his 96-ball 125. By the time he was dismissed, Central Zone had amassed 347 runs. Rain kept interrupting play, but the momentum never slipped away from Central Zone’s favour. Malewar and Yash Rathod added an unbeaten 85-run stand before stumps was called, leaving Malewar two short of a double ton. Brief Scores: Central Zone 432/2 (Danish Malewar 198*, Rajat Patidar 125) vs Northeast Zone.
