The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : North clinches Duleep Trophy

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North clinches Duleep Trophy

Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI: North Zone’s six-wicket victory in the Duleep Trophy final saw Shikhar Dhawan stranded six short of a century, but the opener walked back with head held high and applauded by teammates.

Chasing a target of 166 on the fourth day, he made 94 off 160 balls, batting sensibly without sacrificing flair. Rajat Bhatia, experienced enough to accomplish the task without getting bogged down by pressure, struck 33 off 68 balls as North reached the target, losing only Yashpal Singh’s wicket along the way. Yashpal, strokeless for 39 deliveries, decided to break free with a slash to an Ashraf Makda ball pitched wide of the off-stump and Ajinkya Rahane completed the catch at point.

Sandeep Jobanputra’s angled deliveries had Dhawan edging one through the slips, but the North opener slashed boundaries off the bowler, then pulled Makda for a six to fine leg and moved from 84 to 90.

A century for Dhawan and victory for North would have been the perfect ending but it did not happen due to some negative bowling by Rakesh Dhruv. The winning run was a no-ball from Makda, his second delivery off the 59th over. The opener went for a big hit, got an inside edge and the ball rolled to long leg.

“Shikhar Dhawan has come of age,” said North captain Manhas, relishing his second back-to-back Duleep triumph. “I was captain when we won the trophy last season, so this win is all the more satisfying,” he said.

The scores: West Zone — 1st innings: 274

North Zone —1st innings: 340

West Zone — 2nd innings: 231

North Zone — 2nd innings: Aakash Chopra lbw b Trivedi 12, Shikhar Dhawan (not out) 94, Karan Goel c Patel b Makda 1, Mithun Manhas c Jaffer b Trivedi 1, Yashpal Singh c Rahane b Makda 15, Rajat Bhatia (not out) 33. Extras (b-1, nb-4, w-5) 10. Total (for four wkts. in 58.1 overs) 166.

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-39, 3-40, 4-103

West bowling: Trivedi 20-11-42-2, Jobanputra 18-5-51-0, Makda 18.1-4-59-2, Dhruv 2-0-13-0.

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