Patidar was at his best against the pacers.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
Centuries from Rajat Patidar (101, 115b, 12×4, 2×6) and Yash Rathod (137 batting, 188b, 11×4, 1×6) took Central Zone to a strong position against South Zone on the second day of their Duleep Trophy final at the BCCI CoE Ground (1) here on Friday.
Patidar and Rathod shut South out of the contest with a 167-run fourth-wicket stand. Central finished the day on 384 for five, with a 235-run first-innings lead.
Vidarbha batter Rathod, the highest run-scorer of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, blunted spinners Ankit Sharma and Ricky Bhui. Quick to spot the length and rock back, Rathod picked the gaps with ease.
Rathod
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR
In the evening session, Rathod and Saransh Jain (47 batting) completely deflated South with an unbroken 118-run stand.
Patidar’s fine form continued, with the skipper notching up his 15th First Class hundred. Patidar was at his best against pacers Gurjapneet Singh, V. Koushik and M.D. Nidheesh, presenting the full face of the bat with pleasing straight drives. The Central captain displayed his full range of strokes when off-spinner Bhui came on. A big hit over mid-wicket, sweeps and a cut left Bhui searching for answers.
Patidar received a reprieve on 44, when he offered no shot to left-arm tweaker Ankit and was adjudged leg-before. Replays, however, showed that Ankit had overstepped.
The 32-year-old was finally trapped by a bouncer from Gurjapneet, tickling a hook to the wicket-keeper.
Earlier, Koushik gave South hope at the start of the day by removing Akshay Wadkar. The opener shouldered arms to a ball which pitched outside off, but moved in sharply to hit the stumps.
Wadkar’s partner Danish Malewar (53, 120b, 5×4) continued to impress. The 21-year-old, who only made his senior debut last season, displayed commendable fortitude to see off the new ball.
The scores: South Zone 149 vs Central Zone 384/5 in 104 overs (Danish Malewar 53, Rajat Patidar 101, Yash Rathod 137 batting, Saransh Jain 47 batting, Gurjapneet Singh 3/74).
Published – September 12, 2025 05:57 pm IST