Chand century builds strong total for North

A full day's play was possible in Kochi after the rain-hit first day of the Duleep Trophy semi-final and Unmukt Chand made the most of it, hitting his third first-class hundred. North Zone resumed on 33 for 0 against East Zone and reached 329 for 2 by stumps, openers Jiwanjot Singh and Chand the men to be dismissed.

While Jiwanjot could not make the most of a patient start and fell to Ashok Dinda for 24, Chand kicked on to make 116. He added 187 for the second wicket with Jammu & Kashmir batsman Ian Dev Singh, who had to retire hurt five runs short of what would have been his seventh first-class hundred. Mandeep Singh (40*) and Services batsman Rajat Paliwal (41*) ensured no further damage for North with an unbroken 81-run stand.

South Zone captain Abhinav Mukund led his side to a strong position against Central Zone in the other semi-final in Chennai. Mukund was unbeaten on 61 with B Aparajith giving him company on 35 as South reached 137 for 2 in reply to Central's 209. The visitors resumed in the morning at 123 for 5 and only captain Piyush Chawla put up some resistance. He hit three sixes on his way to 56 before falling to Pragyan Ojha, who ended with 3 for 49.

South started steadily but Akshath Reddy and KL Rahul failed to kick on from starts, falling to Chawla and Umesh Yadav respectively. Mukund was joined by Aparajith at 73 for 2 and by stumps, the partnership had grown to 64.