Live Blog - Duleep Trophy 2025-26 quarter-final - Patidar, Malewar centuries dominate NEZ

Dark, black clouds have gathered to the west, and the umpires check for light. There's a stoppage in play, and here comes the ground staff scampering with the covers. The sound of thunder in the distance is heard rather faintly, and the players are off. Bad light stops play. In fact, the umpires have confirmed that it's stumps on day one, as rain comes pattering down. CZ 432 for 2 after 77 overs, with Malewar on 198* and Rathod on 32*.

One hour to go on day one, and NEZ will be hoping something goes their way. CZ are 399 for 2 after 73 overs, and already in sight of a mammoth first-innings total. Malewar has marched his way 180 at a strike rate of 87 at the break, while his partner Rathod is solid on 21. They had joined hands after Patidar's 125 left NEZ deflated. All the NEZ bowlers can do now is hope CZ have some mercy.

Meanwhile, it's slightly brighter than what it was about 20 minutes back. There are some clouds scattered around, but there seems to be no threat of rain at the moment.

The ground staff is ready with the covers at the deep-square leg boundary from the end where Malewar is on strike in the 68th over. It isn't raining yet, but the staff seems all ready to run in should it start dripping any moment. Or perhaps, they're expecting it to come from the north, where a combination of black and grey clouds have gathered.

Off the first ball of the 67th over, Malewar lofts Jotin down the ground, with Tamang placed at mid-off. Tamang, though, seemed to have moved a bit too far to his left. The ball came the other way, as he stretched his right hand out, only for the ball to tickle it and trickle away for four. That boundary takes Malewar from his previous highest of 153 to a career-best 157. CZ 357 for 2 for 2 after 67 overs.

Yet another attempted sweep off a pace bowler from Patidar, but this time he falls after miscuing it. Jotin, in the 66th over, bowls another length ball, which Patidar aims to deposit beyond the square-leg boundary, and he nearly gets the result he wanted. Malik, who had missed a chance two overs back, is placed right on the edge of the boundary to catch Patidar safely this time. Patidar walks back after a dominating 125 off 96 balls, with CZ 353 for 2 in 66 overs. Yash Rathod is the new batter.

Second ball of the 64th over. Patidar gets a length delivery from Pheiroijam Jotin, which he looks to launch over mid-off. But Patidar ends up skying the ball, which dips where Palzor Tamang at mid-off is positioned. Tamang watches the ball well, but drops the catch with Patidar on 112.

Three balls later, Patidar goes for an attempted sweep off the pace bowler, but mistimes it. Once again, the ball is sent up ballooning into the sky. Ankur Malik, at deep-backward square leg, takes a few steps forward, but sees the ball come to him on the bounce, with Patidar on 113.

With the CZ captain in full flow, how costly will those misses prove? CZ 332 for 1 after 64 overs.

At tea on day one, CZ have bashed their way to 314 for 1 in 61 overs at a masterful run rate of 5.14. Patidar has been aggressive in cracking 111 off just 85 balls, while Malewar, at the other end, has been calmer and yet equally effective. He has ticked along to 132* from 176 deliveries to continue to establish himself at the domestic stage. The two batters had got together at 143 for 1 in the 37th over, when Aryan Juyal had retired hurt after being hit on the abdomen. Since then, Patidar has dominated the 171-run partnership with Malewar, and with that, the hapless NEZ bowlers.

There's a loud round of applause from the CZ dressing room as Patidar raises his bat to acknowledge a commanding century off only 80 deliveries, his 14th in first-class cricket. Patidar's counterpart Jonathan bowls a short delivery outside off, and he punches it through cover for his 18th boundary. That, added to his two sixes, gives Patidar 84 runs out of 101 in boundaries. CZ 303 for 1 in 60 overs as NEZ look clueless on a bright, sunny afternoon.

NEZ's captain and offspinner Rongsen Jonathan bowls the 58th over of CZ's innings. Patidar, on strike, executes one reverse sweep after another off the first four balls. The first three go for a boundary each through short third. Fourth ball, Patidar repeats the shot, but has a deep third waiting for him. CZ 285 for 1 after 58 overs, with Patidar on 94.

Four laced through extra cover. Malewar's fun in first-class cricket continues. A century brought up with his 20th four - that makes it 80 off 100 runs in boundaries - as Malewar builds on what has been a solid mini-career so far. He raises his third first-class century off 144 balls in the 53rd over. CZ 241 for 1 after 53 overs.

Four CZ batters have batted so far, and three of them have got fifty. Patidar is the latest of those. A crunching drive for four through extra cover in the 48th over gets him there off just 42 balls. It is time for drinks in the afternoon session, with CZ chugging along at 216 for 1 after 48 overs, and Malewar on 95.

Boundaries all around the ground, to go with a six. CZ captain Patidar is on 42 off his first 33 balls, and has already thumped seven boundaries and a maximum. Two fours and the six came back-to-back in the 46th over, as CZ continue to pile on the runs. CZ 202 for 1 after 46 overs.

Aryan Juyal walks back limping in the 37th over of CZ's innings after being hit on the abdomen guard. He has retired hurt on 60, and is replaced by his captain Rajat Patidar at the crease. CZ 148 for 1 after 37 overs.

The second-wicket stand between Juyal and Malewar is worth 122 at the lunch break. Juyal moves to his seventh first-class fifty just before the break, thus joining his partner Malewar with the landmark. CZ are 126 for 1 after 34 overs.

Twenty-one-year-old Malewar has already had a solid start to his domestic career. He averages 52.20 after nine first-class matches, and this morning, he adds a seventh half-century in the format. Malewar flicks the ball for four to a straightish fine leg region, and raises the landmark. CZ 87 for 1 after 28 overs.

Juyal and Malewar have now added 50 for the second wicket. There have been a string of dots after the drinks break as the NEZ bowlers have kept tight lines and lengths. But the half-century partnership between the batters is brought up in the 21st over as Juyal punches Bishworjit Konthoujam for two through cover.