Kanitkar leads West to six-wicket win over North

West Zone skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar led from the front as his team eased to a six-wicket victory over North Zone in a Deodhar Trophy encounter at the Gymkhana Ground, Secunderabad on Sunday.

Chasing 231 for victory in 50 overs, West cantered home to victory on the back of Kanitkar's run-a-ball 80 and opener Robin Morris' patient 74. The duo's 128-run third wicket partnership was vital in smoothening West Zone's path to victory. Abhijit Kale, who made an unbeaten 46 off 63 balls with four fours, was the other major contributor in the West Zone innings.

Earlier, North after being put in by West had got off to an indifferent start, losing opener and star bat Gautam Gambhir early. The other opener Akash Chopra, meanwhile, got a start but failed to turn it into a substantial knock, falling for just 29.

It was a failing that was to afflict almost all other North batsmen on a day when only Mithun Manhas 61 off 66 balls got past a half-century. With this being the case, Reetinder Sodhi's men could only post 230/9 - a total that was to prove inadequate on the day.

West Zone gained four points for the win.