Kaif and Kartik light up a gloomy day

Central Zone were 417/8 at the close of the second day of the Duleep Trophy match against East Zone at the Green Park Oval, Kanpur on Friday. The start of day two was again delayed due to heavy fog and in the 63 overs bowled in the day, Central added 186 more runs to the overnight score of 231/3 losing five wickets in the day.

The loss of Gagan Khoda, leg before to Zaman for 6, soon after the start was a heavy let down for Central. Raja Ali Joined Kaif and tried to build the faltering innings. But Ali was caught and bowled by Sukhbinder Singh for 16. Central were 280/5 at that stage. Kaif played rock steady and steadied the boat a little with a 71-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Abhay Sharma who was dismissed by Singh for 31 (4 fours). Kaif meanwhile reached his fifty off 107 balls striking ten fours in the process.

Soon Central were 375/7 losing the man in form, Kaif for 83 caught by Dasgupta off Zaman. Kaif decorated his crafty innings with 14 boundaries. Southpaw Murali Kartik then played a little cameo. Kartik was severe on the bowling hitting six boundaries to make 45 runs off just 50 balls. Kartik fell leg before to Singh in the 114th over and Central were 409/8. At close of play Kulamani Parida and Winston Zaidi were unbeaten on 9 and 3 respectively. Zaman with 4/95 and Sukhbinder Singh with 3/89 have been the mainstay of the bowling.