Central Zone's Batsmen Strongly Respond to West Zone's 438 On Day 2 at Duleep Trophy Semis

Bengaluru, Sep 5 (PTI) — On the second day of the Duleep Trophy semifinal at Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Central Zone's top-order batsmen, spearheaded by Danish Malewar, showcased their might with an impressive total of 229 for two. This steady start came in response to West Zone's robust first innings score of 438. Central still requires 209 more runs to seize an innings lead.

Danish Malewar, fresh off a double century in the quarterfinals against the North-East Zone, steadied the innings with a well-crafted 76. His partner at the crease, Ayush Pandey, provided early momentum with a quickfire 40 off 59 deliveries.

Pandey's aggressive innings, featuring 32 runs through boundaries, was cut short when he drove on the up against pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla, giving Aarya Desai a catch in the covers. Malewar and Shubham Sharma then forged a pivotal 93-run partnership for the second wicket, providing Central with a firm foundation.

Exhibiting exceptional poise, Malewar's 136-ball innings was a masterclass in precise footwork and placement. A standout moment was his backfoot punch off Tushar Deshpande, a delightful shot that sped away to the boundary.

Meanwhile, Shubham Sharma, a seasoned campaigner with 67 first-class matches under his belt, had a tougher time against spinners Tanush Kotian and Dharmendra Jadeja. Despite frequent edges and close calls, he managed to add vital runs.

The West Zone's spin duo challenged Shubham with subtle variations and close catching positions, masterminded by skipper Shardul Thakur. Employment of slip and short-leg added pressure on the batters during the midday session.

Malewar crossed the fifty mark in 94 balls, appearing set for a longer stay, but a loose drive against Jadeja saw him caught behind by Harvik Desai. Nevertheless, Shubham continued to build with his captain, Rajat Patidar, forging a 69-run partnership for the third wicket.

Patidar’s innings was marked by aggression, utilising his supple wrists for strong cover drives to reach his fifty quickly.

Earlier in the morning session, West Zone began at 363 for six and advanced confidently to 411, thanks to a captains' knock by Shardul Thakur, who completed his fifty off 83 balls with a boundary against pacer Yash Thakur.

The partnership for the seventh wicket blossomed to 84, until an ill-fated tight single ended with both Thakur and Kotian at the same end, triggering Thakur’s run-out.

The Central Zone bowlers capitalized on the breakthrough, swiftly claiming the wickets of Kotian, Jadeja, and Nagwaswalla for just 27 runs, effectively curbing West’s growing total.

Overnight batsman Kotian, who resumed on 65, fell for 76 when Harsh Dubey, the left-arm spinner, outfoxed him with a quicker delivery that turned just enough to elude the bat.

Central spinners excelled in the first session, hitting better lengths and exploiting the conditions effectively to steer their team back into contention.

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