West Zone in commanding position
West Zone were heading towards a big first innings lead at stumps on the third day of their Duleep Trophy semifinal against East Zone at Calcutta on Saturday
11-Dec-1999
West Zone were heading towards a big first innings lead at stumps on
the third day of their Duleep Trophy semifinal against East Zone at
Calcutta on Saturday. In reply to West Zone's first innings total of
600 for eight declared, East Zone were a shaky 208 for five wickets at
close of play.
West Zone, who resumed at 544 for seven, declared their innings after
scoring 56 more runs in eleven overs. The eighth wicket stand between
IR Siddiqui and BN Mehta put on 46 runs before Siddiqui was out for 42
while at the declaration, Mehta remained unbeaten with 24.
Openers SS Das and Nikhil Haldipur gave East Zone a sound start
putting on 83 runs off 28.5 overs. Das was then run out for 30. In the
next over East Zone suffered a major blow when the in form Rohan
Gavaskar was leg before to Z Khan. The home team suffered a severe
setback when Haldipur was also run out for 59 at 110. Haldipur, who
was shaping well, faced 106 balls and hit 12 fours. Mhambrey dismissed
Parida for 14 while T Rehman was leg before to BN Mehta for 4 and by
now the East Zone innings, at 155 for five, was in shambles. However
experienced Saba Karim stood firm and by close of play he was batting
with 60. The India stumper faced 112 balls, hit eleven fours and
received able support from Sukhbinder Singh (23) with whom he shared
an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 53 runs in 19.4 overs by
stumps.