Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 6: Displaying remarkable poise under pressure, Shubham Khajuria produced a masterful unbeaten century to anchor North Zone’s innings and revive their campaign on Day 3 of the Duleep Trophy semifinal against South Zone, being played at the BCCI COE Ground-1, Bengaluru.
In reply to South Zone’s mammoth first innings total of 536 runs, North Zone lost two quick wickets early in the day in the form of in-form batsmen-skipper Ankit Kumar (06) and Yash Dhull (14). However, opener Shubham Khajuria and number-4 Ayush Badoni consolidated the innings and made a partnership of 63 runs to take the score to 101/3 in 26.3 overs before Badoni was dismissed on 40 runs off 57 balls with 5 boundaries.
Shubham, while continuing his batting brilliance, was joined by Nishant Sindhu, who salvaged a sinking ship to take the score to 272 runs before his departure, thus making a big partnership of 171 runs along with Shubham.
Shubham, in particular, won hearts with his masterclass and was in awe-inspiring touch, showing stellar grit, solidity, sublimity, elegance, and brilliance to notch up a magnificent unbeaten century, scoring 128 runs off 245 balls*, studded with 20 fours and one six, while Nishant scored 82 runs off 148 balls with 9 fours and one six. Kanhaiya was unlucky to be run out on nought. Shubham (128*) and Sahil Lotra (01) were at the crease at the draw of stumps today.
With the final day of play left in the match, North Zone are still trailing by 258 runs, having 5 wickets in hand. Still anybody’s game, with slight edge to South Zone.
Earlier, on the first two days, South Zone had scored a massive total of 536 runs. N Jagadeesan top-scored with 197 runs off 352 balls with 16 fours and 2 sixes, while Devdutt Padikkal, Tanay Thyagarajan, and Ricky Bhui contributed 57, 58, and 54 runs to the total respectively.
For North Zone, Nishant Sindhu was the pick of the bowlers, who took 5 wickets for 125 runs in 47.2 overs, while Anshul Kambhoj bagged 2 wickets. Mayank Dagar and Sahil Lotra claimed one wicket each.
Brief Scores
South Zone 1st Innings: 536.
North Zone 1st Innings: 278/5 in 79 overs (Shubham Khajuria 128 batting, Nishant Sindhu 82, Ayush Badoni 40; Gurjapneet Singh 3/67, MD Nidheesh 1/58).
Follow our WhatsApp channel
