Duleep Trophy: Vyshak Vijaykumar’s five-for puts South Zone on course for victory | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a crucial Duleep Trophy semi-final clash, pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar showcased his prowess by engineering a middle-order collapse with a remarkable five-wicket haul, placing South Zone on a path towards the victory target of 215 against North Zone on Friday.
Initially, North Zone seemed relatively comfortable at 146 for three. However, Vyshak’s exceptional bowling display with the old ball resulted in a dramatic collapse, with North Zone slumping to 171 for 8 before being bowled out for 211 in just 56.4 overs on a rain-hit third day.
In the final session, South Zone openers B Sai Sudharsan (3 batting) and seasoned Mayank Agarwal (15 batting) managed to score 21 runs off the target. They will be hoping that the weather doesn’t disrupt the proceedings on the final day.
South Zone will also be mindful of the fact that they conceded a slender but crucial three-run lead in the first innings, which could prove decisive if time becomes a factor in the chase.

At the beginning of the day, Karnataka pacer Vidwath Kaverappa (2/47 in 17 overs) dismissed Ankit Kalsi (29) with a well-directed delivery that found the edge, which was safely caught by Ricky Bhui behind the stumps.
However, the highly talented Prabhsimran Singh (63 off 93 balls) and Haryana’s Ankit Kumar (29) built an important partnership of 85 runs for the fourth wicket.
Just as North Zone appeared to establish a commanding position with a potential 150-run overall lead, Vyshak delivered a game-changing spell with the old ball.
He dismissed the well-set Prabhsimran, caught by R Sai Kishore, and then removed Jayant Yadav and Pulkit Narang in the span of three deliveries. Shortly thereafter, Nishant Sindhu, a dangerous batsman, also fell victim to Vyshak’s bowling. At that point, it became clear that North Zone would struggle to mount a comeback.

Harshit Rana (38 off 36 balls), who had previously impressed with a cameo in the first innings, used his aggressive batting style effectively to take the total past the 200-run mark.
Although North Zone failed to make a breakthrough on the day, they can take solace in the fact that South Zone faltered in the first innings after a strong start, conceding a crucial lead.
The final day will heavily rely on the performance of North Zone captain Jayant Yadav and his off-spinning partner Pulkit Narang. Their ability to extract assistance from the surface will be crucial, particularly considering North Zone’s lack of a left-arm spinner. They will be keen to replicate the effectiveness shown by South Zone’s R Sai Kishore (3/28 in 7.4 overs).
Brief Scores: North Zone 195 and 211 in 56.4 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 63, Vyshak Vijaykumar 5/76). South Zone 195 and (target 215) 21/0.
(With inputs from PTI)