High fives for VRV as North bundle out West for 274

Injuries have, more often than not, played hide-and-seek with Punjab8217;s...

Injuries have, more often than not, played hide-and-seek with Punjab8217;s tall medium-pacer Vikram Raj Vir Singh. Despite such setbacks threatening his international career time and again, VRV vowed to show that a good man cannot be kept down for long. His five-wicket haul proved instrumental, as North bundled out the strong West Zone batting line-up for just 274 on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium today.

After his eight-wicket haul against East Zone in the last league match, VRV8217;s confidence was high. But West opener Wasim Jaffer, in his typical style, made sure that the medium-pacers went for runs if they did not stick to their line. Jaffer8217;s three stylish boundaries in VRV8217;s fifth over of the morning questioned North skipper Mitthun Manhas8217; move to field first. VRV, however, got into the act when in the next over he sent Jaffer packing for 23 as the Mumbai opener gave a thick edge to wicket-keeper Uday Kaul.

8220;It was a really big wicket as Jaffer is the backbone of the West team,8221; said VRV later.

He finished with first spell figures of 7-1-40-1. In his second, VRV caused more destruction, accounting for wickets of middle-order batsmen Parthiv Patel 1, Cheteshwar Pujara 0 and Rakesh Solanki 38.

VRV, who was part of the South Africa-touring Indian team last year, has currently been struggling with his landing foot. After his successful eight-wicket haul in a Ranji match against Uttar Pradesh, he was sent to Australia as replacement for Zaheer Khan but didn8217;t get a chance to play in the Tests.

8220;You don8217;t invite injuries, they just happen. And as far as my bowling is concerned, I8217;m happy with the way its going. I was there is Australia and Venkatesh Prasad India8217;s bowling coach helped me lot. He told me nothing specific, but told me ways of how to be more consistent. Now, I8217;m working hard to maintain fitness,8221; VRV explained, at the end of day8217;s play.

Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane came up with a blistering 91 for the West and maintained his good form in the tournament. Though the rest of his team found the North attack hard to handle, Rahane calmly took things in his stride 8212; his 18 boundaries off 112 balls came at a time when most of the experienced run-getters had faltered.

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Brief Scores: West Zone 274 all out S Kukreja 28, W Jaffer 23, A Rahane 91, R Solanki 38, Y Pathan 27; VRV Singh 5/91, A Mishra 3/57 vs North Zone 53 for no loss Aakash Chopra 35 not out, S Dhawan 17 not out.