Tags:
Journalism of Courage
In a classic case of batting the opponents out of the match, North Zone today piled a mammoth first-innings 627 for 7 8212; and still batting 8212; virtually shutting Sri Lanka A out of the Duleep Trophy final with two whole days remaining.
Riding contributions from Aakash Chopra 188, stumper Mahesh Rawat batting 96, Yashpal Singh 77 and Joginder Sharma 72, Mithun Manhas 038; Co stretched the first innings lead to 331 runs, leaving the Islanders little scope of clawing back into the game.
Even as the Lankan bowlers toiled hard on an unresponsive Eden Gardens wicket for the second day on the trot, North are looking for an outright win.
Due credit to the North lower middle-order, which mercilessly milked the bowling on a batting beauty. The five-day match has otherwise lost the zing, and it seems the only thing to look forward to tomorrow is whether in-form Rawat gets a century.
North skipper Manhas went on record flaying the wicket that has proved to be a bowlers8217; graveyard so far. 8220;Of course, we are in a good position. We should go for an outright win from here after scoring so many runs. But the wicket has disappointed me. We all expected at least some help from the wicket for the bowlers. A track like this at the Eden wasn8217;t expected,8221; Manhas said after the day8217;s play.
After scoring the match-turning ton yesterday, opener Chopra added another 53 to his overnight score of 135 before left-arm spinner Rangana Herath gave Sri Lanka A the much-needed breakthrough, trapping him plumb leg-before.
Agony followed for the Lankan bowlers. The trio of Rawat, Yashpal and Joginder took the cue from the way Chopra and Ravneet Ricky 122 batted yesterday, plundering runs at will, mixing the pace of the scoring and toying with the bowlers except for Herath and pacer Ishara Amarasinghe, who stood out with three-wicket hauls each.
If Yashpal and Rawat batted with caution and chose to go through the motions, Joginder was a welcome relief on a dull day, throwing his bat around en route to a breezy 72.
Brief score: Sri Lanka A 296 v North Zone 627/7 in 189 overs Aakash Chopra 188, Ravneet Ricky 122, Mahesh Rawat batting 96, Yashpal Sharma 77, Joginder Sharma 72; Ishara Amarasinghe 3/115, Rangana Herath 3/201.
