Musheer Khan tried a wild one-handed sweep and was caught behind.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
Some late-afternoon tardiness may end up costing West Zone its Duleep Trophy quarterfinal versus North Zone as it lost four wickets in the final 30 minutes of day three to close at 220 for seven, chasing 287.
This included set batters in Ruturaj Gaikwad (66, 70b, 7×4) and Musheer Khan (96, 126b, 8×4, 2×6), and it brought North back into a contest that had seemingly slipped from its grasp on an eventful Tuesday at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here.
Ruturaj risked a sharp single and was run out by a direct hit from wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan while Musheer tried a wild one-handed sweep and was caught behind.
Until then, the duo had combined for an excellent 111-run stand for the fourth wicket. Ruturaj impressed with his wristy stroke-making and Musheer with his footwork. So much so that, the red-soil pitch, which had hissed and spluttered until then, turned a mute witness to their top-notch batting.
But their dismissals, followed by the twin setbacks in the final over off left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, left the contest on a knife’s edge.
The one bit of solace for West Zone is that Urvil Patel is still at the crease (17 batting, 17b, 3×4), and capable all-rounders in Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian are yet to bat.
Earlier in the morning, North Zone, from an overnight 107 for four, folded for 222, with Ayush Badoni top-scoring with 50 (62b, 6×4). All ten wickets were snared by spinners, with even Musheer claiming two.
The 21-year-old Mumbai cricketer will now hope that his all-round performance doesn’t go in vain.
On the adjacent ground, East Zone completed an innings and 210-run win over North East to set up a semifinal date with defending champion Central Zone.
North East was bundled out for 146 after having begun the day at seven for no loss. Anukul Roy took five wickets (five for 37), and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi too joined the party (two for 11) with his handy left-arm spin.
The scores: North Zone 251 & 222 in 51 overs (Ayush Badoni 50, Nishant Sindhu 44, Shams Mulani 4/78, Tanush Kotian 4/46) vs. West Zone 187 & 220/7 in 51 overs (Musheer Khan 96, Ruturaj Gaikwad 66).
East Zone 467 bt North East Zone 111 & 146 in 50 overs (Anukul Roy 5/37).
Published – August 25, 2026 08:48 pm IST
