Central Zone score emphatic win

January 28: Central zone extended their domination in the under-16 Vijay Hazare Trophy cricket league with an emphatic 78-run victory over E...

January 28: Central zone extended their domination in the under-16 Vijay Hazare Trophy cricket league with an emphatic 78-run victory over East Zone at the Parsee Gymkhana, here, today.

The Central spinners Yogendra Panchal 3-28 and Vishal Pandey 2-32 backed up by equally good fielding that resulted in four run outs was instrumental in East falling short of Central8217;s 221 by a big margin. Opener Fardin Khan 31 and tailender Hrishikesh Bagari 24 were the only ones to offer any resistance as the wickets fell around them.

Earlier, batting first, Central were propped up by a 73-run third wicket association between Amit Deshpande 35: 61b, 93m, 4215;4 and Parminder Singh 48: 88b, 110m, 3215;4. The two had joined hands after the early loss of openers Arun Sharma 7 and Vishnu Joshi 0 8212; the latter being dismissed by medium-pacer Mrigen Talukdar off the fourth delivery of the innings.

However, a middle-order collapse ensued after Deshpande and Singh departed in quick succession. It was then left toAhsan Ali 33 and Shalabh Shrivastava 16, who steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

East Zone fielders displayed their mettle affecting five run outs while Talukdar and leg-spinner Baljit Singh captured two wickets apiece.NORTH WIN: North Zone opened their campaign with an emphatic eight-wicket win over South in the other league match at the Wankhede Stadium.

Skipper Yuvraj Singh and opener Dhruv Mohan shared the honours with a 95-run stand that formed the basis of North8217;s victory. While the left-handed Yuvraj remained unbeaten on 81 86b, 98m, 8215;4, Mohan compiled a sedate 71 109b, 123m, 9215;4 that saw North overhaul the 190-run victory target in the 42nd over.

Earlier South Zone were restricted to 189 for 8 after electing to bat. Skipper Venugopal Rao held the innings together remaining unbeaten on a patient 62 121b, 149m, 3215;4 while opener Vikram Kumar 37: 46b, 82m, 5215;4 and Vijay Sai Suri 33 came up with useful contributions.

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Medium-pacer Harikrishan Kalli3-25 and left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh 1-25 curbed the opposition with a nagging line.

The second round of the league phase gets under way on Friday after a day8217;s rest tomorrow.

Brief Scores

Central Zone 221 in 50 overs Amit Deshpande 35, Parminder Singh 48, Ahsan Ali 33; Mrigen Talukdar 2-48, Baljit Singh 2-48 bt East Zone 143 in 45.3 overs Fardin Khan 31, Hrishikesh Bangari 24; Yogendra Panchal 3-28, Vishal Pandey 2-32 by 78 runs

South Zone 189-8 in 50 overs Vikram Kumar 37, Venugopal Rao 62 n.o., Vijay Sai Suri 33; Harikrishan 3-25 lost to North Zone 191-2 in 41.1 overs Dhruv Mohan 71; Yuvraj Singh 81 n.o. by eight wickets.