Live blog - Malewar, Shubham fifties lead Central Zone's strong reply

Malewar has a slice of luck after tea when he gets a thick outside edge off Tanush Kotian, but the ball flies to the right of the wicketkeeper and goes for four. He then sends Deshpande crashing through covers off the front foot to keep the scoreboard ticking. It's all gone quite mellow in the West Zone camp with the sun beating down and the surface also not doing much. A Deshpande short ball has Shubham Sharma in a bit of strife, but he gloves it to the left of the wicketkeeper for four more as the partnership nears the 80 mark.

Deshpande has easily been the quickest of the West Zone bowlers. He is hitting the bat and at times rushing the batters. But there is hardly anything in the surface.

It was hard work for the bowlers in the afternoon session on the second day, with the Central Zone batters holding fort. West Zone fast bowler Arzan Nagwaswalla picked up Aayush Pandey, but there was not much joy for the bowlers otherwise. Danish Malewar notched up his seventh first-class fifty, following up from a double ton in the opening game. Shubham Sharma has also looked solid.

Central Zone scored 97 runs in 29 overs in the second session, losing only Pandey. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja was the only West Zone bowler who got some purchase off the surface. Neither Kotian nor Mulani have been able to fetch much.

Danish Malewar follows up a double century in the Duleep quarter-finals with another fifty in the semis. Playing just his 18th first-class innings, Malewar has already scored seven fifties and three centuries. And once more, he's looked compact.

He rushes through the forties by lifting Shams Mulani straight over the bowler's head and reached his fifty with a nudge to the on-side off Kotian. Took Malewar 94 balls to raise his half-century. Shuabham Sharma, at the other end, has largely looked unfussed.

Shubham Sharma is content living a low-profile life as a cricketer. He hasn't had a chance to play in the IPL, and is not a regular for his team, Madhya Pradesh (MP), in T20s. Batting in T20 cricket isn't Shubham's strength; that lies in his ability to accumulate runs and grinding his way through in the longer formats. He's looking solid once more against West Zone. Here's more on Central Zone's red-ball warrior

The aggression gets the better of Aayush Pandey, who falls for 40 off 59 balls, with eight fours. The left-arm pace of Arsan Nagwaswalla strikes, with a good length ball just outside off. Pandey looks for a drive on the up, but is unable to control it and hits it straight to cover point, where Aarya Desai takes a comfortable catch. Timely strike for West Zone. It's also become much cooler in the last half an hour with a few clouds hanging overhead.

There have been a flurry of boundaries for both Malewar and Pandey in the last few overs. Pandey first takes on Tushar Deshpande for a four past point and then emphatically pulls him twice through midwicket. Malewar, meanwhile, hooks Shardul for a six over deep square leg and follows it up with another clip through midwicket. Pandey has raced to 40 off 58 balls, while Malewar is on 24.

Shardul Thakur resumes after the break and Aayush Pandey goes after him, punching him twice through covers. Tushar Deshpande gets his first spell of the day from the other end, and he's immediately troubling the batters. He is getting decent shape and has beaten the bat a number of times and hit the pad as well. No luck so far with both Pandey and Malewar looking fairly solid.

Thakur induces an outside edge off Malewar's blade but he plays with soft hands and the ball goes to first slip on the bounce. Malewar immediately goes on the assertive driving on the up and through covers for four more.

A steady start for the Central Zone openers, Danish Malewar and Ayush Pandey. Both batters have their boundary counter running. Malewar laces a classy cover-drive off Shardul Thakur while Pandey goes twice through covers off Arzan Nagwaswalla. Spin is introduced very early in the fifth over with Shardul Thakur bowling just the two overs for seven. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is already getting some purchase, and it should be an interesting session post the break.

Ruturaj Gaikwad's epic 184, backed up by fifties from Tanush Kotian and Shardul Thakur, headlined West Zone's impressive show with the bat in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy semi-final. West Zone were bowled out for 438 in 108 overs on the second day, with the two spinners Harsh Dubey and Saransh Jain picking three wickets apiece.

Once the Kotian-Thakur ended courtesy of a run out on the second morning, West Zone slipped quickly, losing their last four wickets for 27 runs. Dubey picked up the final wicket, cleaning up Arzan Nagwaswalla.

Tanush Kotian falls for 76, bowled by a Harsh Dubey quicker delivery that pitches just outside off, skids back in and breaches Kotian's defences. In the next over, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja falls. He was looking to pull a Saransh Jain quicker delivery. He misses and is trapped right in front.

West Zone have slipped from 411 for 7 to 421 for 9. Tushar Deshpande has just smashed Jain for a straight six and will look to add a few quick runs. Chahar knows the importance of these runs and shouts, "chalo boys, important runs hain ye," from the deep third boundary.

Big miscommunication and Thakur has to walk back after a needless run out at the non-striker's end. It was a flatter length ball from Harsh Dubey that Kotian punched to mid-off. He sets off for a single, but realises he's hit that a little too well and backtracks. Thakur had, however, committed to the single and both batters end up on the same end. Aayush Pandey lobs a throw to Dubey, who does the rest. Thakur is absolutely livid as he walks back, keeps looking back at Kotian.

It's been a breezy start for Shardul Thakur this morning. He resumed the day on 24 and has quickly sped to a half-century, unfurling a number of boundaries on the way. He struck two solid cover drives against Khaleel Ahmed and then reached his fifty by punching Yash Thakur down the ground twice in successive balls: one along the turf to the left of mid-off and one over him to reach his fifty off 83 balls.

West Zone have also breached the 400-mark, getting there in the 99th over at better than four runs an over. Thakur, meanwhile, goes after Harsh Dubey, smashing him straight down the ground for six.

It's been close to five months since an elbow injury kept Ruturaj Gaikwad away from top-flight cricket. He had a stint at the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament but playing a first-class game - a Duleep Trophy semi-final, no less - after a substantial gap, he would have liked to ease into the red-ball grind.

Instead, Gaikwad found himself walking in at 10 for 2 on the opening day, 19 balls into the semi-final, with West Zone bowlers breathing fire. He weathered the early storm, took on the spinners and recorded the most brilliant 184 runs off 206 balls. It was a masterclass on how to pace an innings. He took 72 balls to reach his fifty, 59 to go from 51 to 100, and just 47 balls to move from 101 to 150.

Khaleel gets a length ball to move away from Tanush Kotian in his second over of day two. The batter goes fishing at it, gets a thick outside edge, but Aayush Pandey at gully spills a relatively regulation catch low to his right. Khaleel is visibly frustrated.

In the next over, there is an appeal for a caught behind as Deepak Chahar goes short with Shardul Thakur attempting a pull and missing. I heard a sound, but nothing from the umpire. Chahar agrees with me and says, "appeal karo yaar, awaaz aayi hai," to the wicketkeeper, who didn't appeal.

Things starting to happen on the second day. West Zone are 371 for 6 after 92 overs

The weather has cleared up, the sun is out and there is a gentle breeze blowing across the ground. All in all, perfect conditions to play cricket. Out stride the two umpires, followed by the Central Zone fielders, who are in a huddle. The two overnight batters, Tanush Kotian and Shardul Thakur, also walk out to generous applause from their team-mates.

Deepak Chahar will bowl the first over, with Tanush Kotian on strike. Central Zone have taken the new ball this morning. Chahar starts with a maiden while Khaleel Ahmed concedes just a run at the other end. Not a lot of movement just yet for either seamer.

A Ruturaj Gaikwad masterclass helped resurrect West Zone's batting on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy 2025-26 semi-final, taking them to a position of strength. Gaikwad came into bat at 10 for 2 with Khaleel Ahmed and Deepak Chahar moving the ball hoops. He took his time in settling down, and then ticked along once the sun came out.

Gaikwad finished on 184 off 206 balls, with 25 fours and a six. He got good support from Aarya Desai and then Tanush Kotian, with whom he stitched a 148-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Things might have been different if not for Gaikwad's ton. Khaleel trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw three balls into the day. Harvik Desai was caught at first slip off Chahar while Shreyas Iyer's middle stump was flattened by Khaleel for 25. But Gaikwad stood firm and took West Zone to safer shores. He reached his fifty in 85 balls, century in 131 balls and his 150 off 178 balls.

At the end of the opening day, West Zone had Kotian unbeaten on 65, while Thakur was 24 not out.

Thakur has a slice of luck when he gets a thick off Saransh Jain, which just flies past the 'keeper's right. Things have slowed down since Gaikwad's dismissal, but that's also because stumps are approaching.

Right after Tanush Kotian raises his 17th first-class half-century, Gaikwad's epic knock comes to an end. He jumps down the track to Saransh Jain, who sees him and shortens his length. Gaikwad gets beaten in flight and is stumped. Throws his head back as he walks off but this has been a gem of a knock from Gaikwad. He came in when West Zone were in all sorts, with the ball moving hoops. He first calmed things down, then accelerated and took it to another level post-tea.

Gaikwad's 184 included 25 fours and one six as he walks back putting West Zone in a position of strength. His wicket ended a 148-run stand with Kotian, who is unbeaten on 54. Captain Shardul Thakur comes next.

The ball is pinging off Gaikwad's blade as he smashes four fours and a six off a Khaleel Ahmed over to take him rushing past 150 off just 178 balls. There were two cover drives, one square cut and an upper cut that went all the way. He has come out with a lot of intent after the tea break and is taking on the fast bowlers. The next over, he goes after Yash Thakur and sends him screeching through the covers.

Tanush Kotian is also stroking the ball really well and is inching towards fifty, while Gaikwad is in his 170s.

Gaikwad has started the third session with three fours in an over off Yash Thakur - two crunching straight drives and one fortunate outside edge that flew to the right of the wicketkeeper. His partnership with Tanush Kotian is already worth 78. Central Zone have started with pace after tea, with Yash Thakur and Khaleel Ahmed operating in tandem.

West Zone 237 for 5 (Gaikwad 121*, Desai 39) vs Central Zone

It's been one-way traffic since the lunch break at the Central Zone-West Zone semi-final. Harsh Dubey got rid of Shams Mulani, but Ruturaj Gaikwad carried on and notched up his eighth first-class century. Tanush Kotian joined him in the middle and has rattled along nicely. He struck two straight fours off Saransh Jain, one of which crashed into the sight screen and damaged the ball.

With the sun beating down, bowling has been hard work after lunch and Gaikwad has looked solid. He goes into tea unbeaten on 121; he has added 66 runs in the second session alone. West Zone have, meanwhile, racked up 121 runs in the second session.

Eighth first-class century for Gaikwad. He rushes through the 90s with a fierce pull off Harsh Dubey and gets to his century with a drive through covers off Harsh Dubey. This has really been a solid knock from Gaikwad. He weathered the early storm when West Zone were 10 for 2, and then cashed in against the spinners.

Just 28 of 100 runs have come against the pacers. He made sure to be circumspect against the moving ball early and then attacked the spinners. Since the lunch break, Gaikwad has moved quickly. He was on 55 off 86 balls at lunch, and got to his century off 131 balls with 13 fours.

He gets beaten in the flight and has to walk back. Gives Harsh Dubey the charge too early, who shortens his length and has Mulani stumped for 18. Gaikwad has, meanwhile, stepped on the pedal after the break and is nearing his century. Tanush Kotian is next in.

It is the around-the-wicket angle that does Iyer in. Khaleel pulls his length back and gets the ball to deck back in. Iyer stands tall and looks for a late cut, but is done in by the angle. He can only manage a thick inside-edge with his middle stump going flop. He falls for 25 off 28 balls. There is a long check for a no-ball but Khaleel seems to be fine.

Shams Mulani has walked in next and he's started positively, particularly down the ground, where he's struck two fours. Gaikwad has, meanwhile, moved to 81. It's gone a bit quiet in the Central camp so Umesh Yadav walks behind and shouts, "thodi awaaz aane do bhai."

Righto, we are back after the break. Harsh Dubey to start the second session, while it is Iyer to take strike. He drives firmly on the up and along the turf to the right of cover to set things rolling after lunch. Khaleel has started his second spell from the other end, from around the wicket. He gets greeted by a wristy flick from Gaikwad through mid-on before Harsh Dubey gets pulled by Gaikwad the next over to the right of mid-on.

West Zone 116 for 3 (Gaikwad 55*, Desai 39*) vs Central Zone

Yashasvi Jaiswal fell just three balls into the Duleep Trophy semi-final as the Central Zone bowlers had West Zone in early trouble at 10 for 2. But Ruturaj Gaikwad and Aarya Desai held their own, initially weathering a lively Khaleel Ahmed-Deepak Chahar burst before cashing in against the spinners to take Central Zone to 116 for 3 at lunch on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy semi-final at Ground B of BCCI's Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru.

Under cloudy skies, Khaleel was clipped for a four through square leg first ball but he got his revenge two balls later when Jaiswal played all around a nip-backer to be trapped in front. Chahar then got into the act, having Harvik Desai caught at first slip. Gaikwad played and missed a few balls early and had a couple of lbw shouts but he looked solid and then got going against the spinners. Forty-three of Gaikwad's 55 runs have come against the spinners and he will look for a move on after lunch with the pitch now looking a belter.

Aarya Desai also looked compact during his 39, but misjudged an arm ball from Harsh Dubey and was bowled. Shreyas Iyer walked out at No. 5 and he's looked proactive from the get-go.

Rushes through the 40s with a couple of fours and reaches his fifty off 72 balls with a nudge to mid-off. He has really looked compact so far and will want to convert this into a big one.

A quicker one from Dubey and Desai's sprightly knock has come to an end on 39. Dubey got the ball to fizz off the surface, and Desai, who rocked back, looking for a pull, was beaten in the flight. The ball rushes past him and clatters into off stump. Timely wicket for Central as they break an 82-run third-wicket stand.

Shreyas Iyer walks in and has a lucky escape first up. He goes for a sweep, hits it towards deep square leg, where Khaleel is a few metres inside the rope. Had he been on the ropes, it could have been a catch.

Another change, as Harsh Dubey comes on for a bowl, replacing Yash Thakur. He raps Gaikwad on the pad first up, but the ball was sliding down leg. After the initial wicket burst, there have been no alarm bells at all for the batters. The spinners also haven't been able to extract anything so far. Gaikwad has taken on the spinners as drives Jain on the up through mid-off for another four.

Huge appeal for lbw as Gaikwad misses a flick and is rapped on the pad, but the umpire remains unmoved. The Central fielders can't believe that was not given. Jain then drops one short and Gaikwad hops onto the backfoot in a flash and thrashes him through covers. The very next ball, he steps down the track and thumps Jain to the left of mid-off.

Chahar into his sixth over drops one short and there's the chance for Gaikwad to free his arms as he climbs into the short ball and pulls through square leg. Aarya Desai, at the other end, has already struck five crisp fours in his 23. Chahar is done after his six-over spell and here's the first sign of spin, with Saransh Jain getting ready. Gaikwad gets proactive immediately, guiding his first ball past slip and then sweeping him to the left deep fine leg.

A few plays and misses, and a couple of lbw appeals, but Ruturaj Gaikwad has largely looked solid in his brief stay. He drove Khaleel on the up to the left of mid-off and then flicked Chahar to the left of mid-on, but more importantly, he has left the ball well. It is a game of patience as far as West Zone are concerned. The clouds have cleared and the sun is out. The surface should also ease out in the next hour or so.

Here's the first change for Central Zone, as Yash Thakur comes on for a bowl.

It's been a tough morning for the West Zone batters with the ball moving around. And now, Deepak Chahar gets into the act. He gets the ball to move away from Harvik Desai, who collects a thick outside edge and the catch is taken neatly by Yash Rathod at first slip. Ruturaj Gaikwad walks in at No. 4 and he has a tough task up his sleeve.

Aarya Desai has, meanwhile, unfurled two gorgeous flicks through mid-on, but with the ball swinging hoops, Central will fancy a few more wickets.

Bright start for Jaiswal, who clips the first ball through square leg. It was a loose length ball down leg and Jaiswal cashed. But Khaleel has his revenge almost immediately. Gets the ball to nip into Jaiswal at pace, who plays all around it and is trapped in front just three balls into the semi-final. Just the start Khaleel and Central were looking for.

It's definitely cloudy overhead and Khaleel is getting the ball to move around. But more importantly, he is doing it at pace. Deepak Chahar shares the new ball and also get plenty of seam movement. This is going to be a test for Aarya Desai and Harvik.