Jagadeesan, Padikkal put South Zone in strong position

South Zone 297 for 3 (Jagadeesan 148*, Padikkal 57, Tanmay 43, Sindhu 2-59, Kamboj 1-47) vs North Zone

It has become quite dark all of a sudden. The rain clouds are hovering over the ground and the umpires are seen having a word with players whether to continue. That will be stumps.

N Jagadeesan was the standout performer on day 1, crafting a composed century to guide South Zone to a strong position. After a cautious start - reaching his fifty off 124 balls - Jagadeesan shifted gears post-lunch, accelerating fluently to bring up his hundred off just 60 more deliveries.

He was well supported by Devdutt Padikkal, who added a brisk half-century in a 128-run second-wicket stand that lifted South past 250. While North Zone found a couple of breakthroughs late in the day - including Padikkal at the stroke of tea - they toiled for large parts without much reward. The pitch offered little assistance, and South's batters capitalised.

By stumps, Jagadeesan remained unbeaten on 148, with South Zone on 297 for 3

Slowly but steadily, South Zone have crossed the 250 mark and are eyeing a strong finish to the day. Jagadeesan continues to grind it out, having faced over 200 deliveries. However, North Zone struck after the first hour of the final session, with Nishant Sindhu trapping Mohit Kale lbw. A loud appeal was followed by a swift decision from the umpire. Captain Azharuddeen has now joined the opener at the crease.

South Zone 268 for 3 after 72 overs

Tea - South Zone 231 for 2 (Jagadeesan 110*, Padikkal 57, Tanmay 43, Sindhu 1-38, Kamboj 1-40) vs North Zone

The second session witnessed a flurry of runs as the batters added 152 to the total. Jagadeesan and Devdutt Padikkal both reached well-deserved fifties, showcasing a blend of patience and aggression. Jagadeesan accelerated impressively after his fifty, unleashing powerful strokes including towering sixes and crisp boundaries. Padikkal, meanwhile, played with finesse, finding gaps with precise drives and cuts. Their second-wicket partnership - 128 runs off 168 balls - has firmly taken the innings forward, setting a strong platform for the middle order.

However, at the stroke of tea - the session was extended by half an hour due to a delayed start - Padikkal threw his wicket away, chasing a wide delivery from Kamboj and being caught by the wicketkeeper.

Hundred for Jagadeesan. The highlight of his innings has been the way he accelerated, going from 50 off 124 balls to notch up his century off just the next 60 deliveries. He showcased a blend of power and timing, including a well-placed loft over mid-off for his first boundary after reaching fifty.

On the very next ball, he hammered a powerful straight four, followed shortly by a towering six off left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar that earned applause from his team-mates. Jagadeesan maintained his aggressive strokeplay with another brisk four, this time heaving the ball to the right of mid-on off Sindhu. Soon after, he punished Dagar with a lofted six over long on, and then cut one on the backfoot to the deep third boundary to comfortably move into the 90s.

He slaps one down the ground towards long off and takes a single to complete his half-century, off Sindhu. After a cautious first session, Jagadeesan has picked up the pace in the hour following lunch, scoring some quick runs. So far, he has hit only three fours, with the majority of his runs coming through quick singles and doubles, showing his intent to keep the scoreboard moving.

ICYMI, Jagadeesan spoke to ESPNcricinfo recently, where the batter opened up about his maiden India Test call-up for the England series and how he his hoping to build on recent gains in career more of lows than highs. Read here.

The left-arm spinner finally strikes, in the 32nd over, ending the patient first-wicket partnership that had just crossed the century mark. Tanmay, standing deep in his crease, attempted a sharp cut shot but got a little too close to the ball. The ball sneaked through and crashed into the stumps, bringing an end to his promising innings. He has to depart for 43. In walks, Devdutt Padikkal, another left-hander to join Jagadeesan.

If the first session was about setting up, the second has been about accelerating. The openers have carried their form through lunch and brought up a brisk 100-run stand. Jagadeesan has been especially sharp - picking up a couple of quick twos and unfurling a backfoot punch off Sindhu that oozed timing. He even took on Kamboj with a confident hook shot, signaling the shift in tempo.

Tanmay, meanwhile, tried mixing it up - unveiling a reverse sweep off Sindhu and then surviving an lbw appeal after mistiming a sweep. Bit of risk, but clear intent from both.

The pitch looks to be easing up, and unless the bowlers find something soon, this could be a long grind. The planes aren’t the only things flying past at this ground.

Lunch - South Zone 79 for 0 (Tanmay 33*, Jagadeesan 30*) vs North Zone

The first session belonged to South Zone with openers Jagadeesan and Tanmay taking the side to 79 for no loss in24 overs. Tanmay started off briskly in the first hour with a few easy boundaries after the delayed start but played cautiously as the match progressed. Jagadeesan got a reprieve on 9 when he nicked one to keeper off Kamboj , only to be deemed a no-ball as the bowler had overstepped. The pitch showed some low bounce, with the seam offering a bit of movement off the surface. After 19 overs of pace, North Zone introduced (left-arm) spin through Nishant Sindhu. He bowled three overs before lunch, made Jagadeesan play deep in the crease and appealed for lbw when there was an inside edge. But they are still searching for the first wicket.

North Zone almost had their first breakthrough in the 11th over. Kamboj - in his sixth straight over - bowled a length ball around off stump which forced Jagadeesan, who was on 9, to drive forward. But the batter only managed a thick outside edge, with the North Zone keeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan staying low and collecting the ball cleanly. However, it was signalled not out by the umpire since the bowler had overstepped. Devdutt Padikkal, who was padded up and was about to step on to the field, was sent back.

Openers Jagadeesan and Tanmay have been solid since the start. Left-handed Tanmay, in particular, has been keen on singles but also found two boundaries on the leg side in his first 30 balls. Jagadeesan's first four came off Anshul Kamboj in the seventh over of the innings, a flick towards deep square leg. Auqib Nabi, the fast bowler who picked up four wickets in four balls in the quarter-final, bowled three overs and conceded 13 before being replaced by Yudhvir Singh.

Kamboj has looked the better bowler this morning, teasing the batters with a few deliveries that beat the outside edge. But he hasn't been able to find a breakthrough yet.

North Zone have won the toss and decided to field first after the toss was delayed due to wet outfield. Tanmay Agarwal and N Jagadeesan are the openers for South. Mohit Kale, Salman Nizar and Nidheesh MD are all named in the playing XI.

South Zone: N Jagadeesan, Tanmay Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Mohit Kale, Mohammed Azharudden(capt), Ricky Bhui, Salman Nizar, Tanay Thyagarajan, Gurjapneet Singh, Nidheesh MD, Koushik V

North Zone : Ankit Kumar (capt), Shubham Khajuria, Yash Dhull, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Kanhaiya Wadhavan (wk), Sahil Lotra, Mayank Dagar, Auqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh, Anshul Kamboj