Top Order gives North Zone solid foundation

Despite losing two wickets late in the day, North Zone posted a good score of 263 for four wickets off 88 overs at close of play on the first day of their five day Duleep Trophy final against West Zone at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta on Friday.

Winning the toss on a good batting track, North Zone were given a sound start with openers Ashu Dani and skipper Vikram Rathour putting on 87 runs off 24 overs. Both Dani and Rathour were lucky to get one reprieve each and they got away with some edged shots. But they continued to go for their strokes and set the foundation for a good total. Left arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni broke the stand by bowling Dani for 43. Dani faced 86 balls and hit five fours.

Rathour and Reetinder Singh Sodhi then consolidated the position with a second wicket partnership of 88 runs from 28 overs. Rathour progressed smoothly to 74 when he was caught by Kale off Kulkarni. The former India batsman faced 146 balls and hit ten fours and a six. There was no real respite for the West Zone bowlers however for Sodhi and the in form Pankaj Dharmani came together for a third wicket association that added 75 runs from 28.3 overs.

Late in the day, medium pacer Iqbal Siddiqui struck twice to put the brakes on North Zone. First, he had Dharmani caught by Wasim Jaffar for 39. Dharmani faced 87 balls and hit seven fours. In his following over, Siddiqui had Sodhi caught by PH Patel for 67. Sodhi had faced 188 balls and hit 12 of them to the ropes. Rajiv Nayyar (5) and Navdeep Singh (6) were at the crease at stumps.

On an unfriendly wicket, the West Zone bowlers stuck to their task manfully. Mhambrey bowled well but went wicketless. Siddiqui was rewarded with those late wickets but the best bowler was Kulkarni who sent down 35 overs to bag two wickets for 51.