Zaheer's spell deflates Central Zone
The Zimbabwe President's XI ended day two at 20 for 0, still 186 runs behind East after Sourav Ganguly declared his side's first innings at 362 for 9 at Mumbai
Cricinfo staff
05-Nov-2005
West Zone 2 for 0 and 220 (Jaffer 58, Bangar 5-37) require another 135 runs to beat Central Zone 206 (Kaif 56, Zaheer 6-54) and 150 (Zaheer 4-70)
West are 2 for 0 at stumps and need just 135 runs more to beat Central at Aurangabad after Zaheer Khan (4 for 70) continued his amazing form in the match by dismantling Central for the second time in two days. Khan struck four times in an extended opening spell, dismissing Naman Ojha, Amit Pagnis, Sanjay Bangar and Devendra Bundela in a a hostile burst. Munaf Patel, the fast bowler, lent good support to Khan with three wickets late in the day. Only Jyoti Prakash Yadav's 41 and Pagnis's 34 up the order stood out in the deflated Central second innings.
Earlier, Bangar's 5 for 37 crushed West's chances of taking a first innings lead over Central. Resuming their innings at 104 for 2, West proceeded to lose Wasim Jaffer (58) and Niraj Patel (6) in quick succession as Bangar rose to the occasion. No significant partnerships followed as Bangar kept a tight line and took three lower order wickets, bowling out West for 220.
Zimbabwe President's XI 20 for 0 and 156 (Bose 5-28) trail East Zone 362 for 9 (A Das 80, SS Das 61, Dasgupta 56*) by 186 runs
The Zimbabwe President's XI ended day two at 20 for 0, still 186 runs behind East after Sourav Ganguly declared his side's first innings at 362 for 9 at Mumbai. A 131-run opening partnership between Arindam Das (80) and Shiv Sunder Das (61), coupled with fine contributions from Sathiamoorty Saravanan (52) and Deep Dasgupta (56*) saw East take a 206-run lead over the Zimbabweans.
Dasgupta, the former India wicketkeeper, and Shahbaz Nadeem (36) rescued East from a middle order collapse with a 54-run stand, and took them well past 300 after Anthony Ireland (3 for 60) and Graeme Cremer (2 for 82) struck crucial blows in the post-lunch session. Ganguly, the former India captain fighting to regain his place in the national side, fell to Cremer after scoring just 14 off 42 deliveries.
