Bengaluru: Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande combined to stunningly claim eight crucial wickets as West Zone’s disciplined bowling attack clinically dismantled North Zone’s batting line-up, despite a late counter-attacking blitz from Anshul Kamboj and a fluent half-century from Ayush Badoni. North Zone was eventually bowled out for 251 in 66.5 overs. West Zone, however, endured a disappointing start to their first innings, losing two early wickets and finishing the day at 31/2 after 10 overs at stumps on Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru.
In the second quarter-final, West Zone successfully restricted North Zone to 251 in 66.5 overs after North Zone won the toss and elected to bat first Despite the opening and middle-order collapse, Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande spearheaded the bowling attack, claiming four wickets each. With the bat, Anshul Kamboj produced a blistering counter-attacking knock of 60 off 52 balls, providing North Zone with a crucial late flourish, while Ayush Badoni contributed a solid 51 off 57 balls to help them post a respectable first-innings total. West Zone, however, endured an early setback in their reply, losing both openers and reaching 31/2 after 10 overs at stumps, still trailing North Zone by 220 runs.
The match began with North Zone winning the toss and electing to bat first. However, they suffered an early setback, losing both their openers inside the first 16 overs. Yash Dhull was dismissed by Shardul Thakur after scoring just 9 runs, while Qamaran Iqbal was trapped LBW by Tushar Deshpande after scoring 26 off 46 balls, leaving North Zone struggling at 45/2. However, Ayush Doseja and Ayush Badoni then attempted to revive the innings after the early setbacks. The pair steadied the innings with a crucial partnership of 72 runs off 108 balls. Badoni played an aggressive role, while Doseja provided valuable support at the other end, anchoring the innings and rotating the strike effectively. Their partnership helped North Zone reach 114/2 at lunch. Badoni played a fluent innings and scored a valuable half-century, providing a strong foundation for North Zone’s recovery. However, after reaching his fifty, he soon lost his wicket to Tushar Deshpande after scoring 51 off 57 balls, including six fours and two sixes, bringing the partnership to an end. Doseja then fell to Tanush Kotian after scoring a patient 42 off 110 balls. In the second session, North Zone suffered a massive middle-order collapse, losing five wickets for just 72 runs. They eventually slipped from 117/3 to 220/9. However, from the lower middle order, Anshul Kamboj stood tall with a flourishing counter-attacking knock of 60 off 52 balls, including five fours and five stunning sixes, giving North Zone a much-needed boost. Kamboj, however, lacked substantial support from the other end and could not sustain his attacking innings for much longer. Tanush Kotian eventually dismissed him, and with his wicket, North Zone were bowled out for 251 in 66.5 overs.
Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande shared eight wickets between them, claiming four each and playing a pivotal role in triggering North Zone’s batting collapse. Kotian finished with impressive figures of 4/72 at an economy rate of 3.46, while Deshpande returned excellent figures of 4/57 at an economy rate of 3.80. Mukesh Choudhary and Shardul Thakur chipped in with one wicket apiece. West Zone then began their first innings with openers Prithvi Shaw and Harvik Desai, but they too suffered an early setback. Shaw struck a few boundaries before being bowled by Abid Mushtaq after scoring 22 off 21 balls, including four fours. Harvik Desai struggled to find his rhythm and eventually fell for 3, dismissed by Arshdeep Singh. West Zone slipped to 31/2 inside the ninth over, enduring a disappointing start to their innings. Musheer Khan, unbeaten on 6 off 21 balls, and Shivalik Sharma, yet to open his account after facing one delivery, remained at the crease at stumps on Day 1, with West Zone still trailing North Zone by 220 runs.
West Zone will look to rebuild their innings on Day 2 by forging a solid partnership and putting themselves in a stronger position, while North Zone will be eager to break the stand and strike early with crucial wickets.
