Shewag hauls South over the coals

Virender Shewag gave a friendly South Zone attack a fearful pounding on Day two of the Duleep Trophy quarter final between North and South Zones at Agartala today. North Zone finished the day at 551-6 of which Shewag's share was a bellicose 274 off just 325 balls with 36 hits to the fence and 4 hits over it. Shewag was the prime mover in a 381 run fifth wicket partnership off 107.1 overs with the indefatigable Rajeev Nayyar who was still undislodged at stumps at 115 with eleven fours. Nayyar's runs have come off 456 balls and in 590 minutes; having already played the longest innings in first class cricket earlier in the season, he showed he has few peers in this respect with another trademark knock of immense patience.

North resumed at their overnight 229-4 (and not 213-4 as mentioned yesterday). Shewag, who played in one ODI for India last season, against Pakistan at Mohali in the Pepsi Cup (he made a solitary run and was also belted for 35 runs in three overs) has already displayed an appetite for runs this season with 187 against Haryana and 165 against Himachal. He was finally stumped by Shiraguppi off a persevering Venkatapathy Raju with the total at 530. Wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya fell cheaply for eight and Nikhil Chopra on four was holding the fort with Nayyar when play ended for the day.

The three South spinners, Raju, Kapoor and Joshi, all toiled hard but with little to show for their efforts as they posted a century apiece in the runs column of their bowling analyses.