South Zone Vs Central Zone Duleep Trophy Final Day 2 Highlights: Central Zone Lead By 235 Runs

Rajat Patidar (101) and Yash Rathod (137*) powered Central Zone to 384/5, taking a 235-run lead over South in the Duleep Trophy final. Their 167-run stand rescued Central from 93/3 before Rathod and Saransh Jain (47*) added 118 unbeaten. Gurjapneet Singh (3/74) impressed for South.

At the end of Day 2, South Zone have a mountain to climb and everything seems to go against their plan. The pitch has softened up, the bowlers look tired and the spinners who should have dominated the proceedings are yet to pick up a single wicket. Central Zone, on the other hand, picked up from where they left off on Day 1. Earlier in the morning, South Zone used seamers from both ends to find the breakthroughs. MD Nidheesh and Vasuki Koushik were tight with the lines and lengths but not good enough to get a breakthrough. However, Vasuki Koushik was rewarded for his discipline eventually, and the tall paceman, Gurjapneet Singh, got the big wicket of Danish Malewar. Central Zone lost three wickets in the first session but once the opposition got tired and the spinners failed to get anything big off the surface, Rajat Patidar and Yash Rathod chipped in to put in a long, stubborn stand to break the back of South Zone. The 167-run partnership saw Rajat Patidar hit his 15th first-class century, however, note that he was pinged on the pads when he was on 44 but the decision was overturned as Ankit Sharma overstepped. Once the skipper fell after his ton, Saransh Jain joined hands with Rathod to build yet another partnership and to make things worse for the opposition. South Zone got a lower degree of turn compared to Day 1 but it was not just about turn but how their bowlers bowled as well. Ankit Sharma and Ricky Bhui lacked consistency on a wicket that demanded discipline, just as we saw from Kumar Kartikeya and Saransh Jain on Day 1.

At this moment, South Zone are well behind in the game but it’s the finals and they have no option but to keep fighting and look for wickets. Central Zone lead by 235 runs. Maybe they’ll bat for a couple of more sessions on Day 3 and stretch the lead above 350. How will Day 3 unfold? Join us at 9.30 am IST (4 am GMT) to find out. You can join us earlier for the build up as well. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Central Zone through and through in the finals of the Duleep Trophy, 2025. A tired-looking South Zone players walk off the ground, whereas Yash Rathod and Saransh Jain, with a smile on their faces, exit Day 2.

Vasuki Koushik to Saransh Jain : No run, played towards mid wicket.

Vasuki Koushik to Saransh Jain : Bowls it on a length, outside off, Saransh Jain offers no shot.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : Almost dragged it back onto the stumps! Closer to the off stump, on a back of a length, Rathod is searching for the ball and just hangs his bat out a bit away from his body. Gets an inside edge that sneaks past the stumps and rolls down to deep fine leg for one.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : This thuds into the keeper’s gloves. On a short of a length, going away from the left-hander. Yash Rathod watchfully lets it pass. Mohammed Azharuddeen collects it at head height.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : Fuller in length, moving away off the deck, Yash takes a step down the track, covers the off stump and makes the leave.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : Angled across, on a good length, Yash Rathod shoulders arms.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : In the corridor on off, on a nagging length. No movement whatsoever and Saransh taps it to cover.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : Sliding down leg, Saransh Jain holds his bat high to make the leave. A good diving take by Mohammed Azharuddeen to his right.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : No run, played towards mid on.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : Hurls it on a back of a length, on off, Saransh Jain stands tall and punches it to cover.

MD Nidheesh to Yash Rathod : Pitched up, on off, Yash Rathod is unable to keep the drive along the ground but it is hit in the vacant point region. They cross.

MD Nidheesh to Yash Rathod : Honing in at the stumps, on a good length, Yash Rathod is solid in defence.

Vasuki Koushik to Saransh Jain : No run, played towards covers.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : Lands it on a back of a length, around off, Yash punches it with a high elbow to deep backward point for a run.

Vasuki Koushik to Saransh Jain : Koushik comes from around the wicket now. On a nagging length, outside off, Jain frees his arms and cuts it to deep point for one.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : On a nagging length, on off, dabbed wide of point for a single.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : FOUR LEG BYES! Vasuki Koushik strays on the pads and the length is again a bit too short. Yash misses out on the tickle and the ball clips his thigh pad. Beats the diving keeper to his right for a boundary.

Vasuki Koushik to Yash Rathod : Angled away, on a short of a length, Yash Rathod follows the ball with his hands and glides it to the right of deep backward point for a couple of runs.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : Beaten! MD Nidheesh goes wide on the crease and bashes the hard length. Jain gets on his toes and has a feel for the delivery. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : No run.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : Angled across but not close enough to make the batter play, on a good length, Saransh Jain shoulders arms.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : Sprayed down leg, on a length, Jain lets it be.

MD Nidheesh to Saransh Jain : From over the wicket for Saransh, fuller in length, in the channel, left alone by Jain.

MD Nidheesh to Yash Rathod : MD Nidheesh steams in from around the wicket and angles it into the pads, on a short of a length, helped away to deep fine leg for a single.

The new ball needs to be mandatorily taken now. South Zone have no other option. Let’s see if they can get it to swing a bit. MD Nidheesh will have a bite of the new-cherry.

Ricky Bhui to Saransh Jain : Slanting into the left-hander, full in length, Saransh Jain clips it to mid-wicket.

Ricky Bhui to Saransh Jain : FOUR! Smeared away! Ricky Bhui tosses it up, a low full toss, around off, Jain swipes it to the left of mid-wicket for a boundary. Central Zone lead by 223 runs!

Ricky Bhui to Saransh Jain : Fuller and quicker, on off, Saransh Jain eases it to cover.

Ricky Bhui to Saransh Jain : Turning away off a length, Saransh Jain gets a stride forward and leaves.

Ricky Bhui to Saransh Jain : No run, played towards covers.

Ricky Bhui to Saransh Jain : Angled in on the off pole, on a length, Saransh Jain lunges and blocks it out.

Ankit Sharma to Saransh Jain : Short and on off, punched past the bowler for a single by Saransh.

Ankit Sharma to Saransh Jain : Full and straight, attacking the front pad, Saransh Jain pushes it back to Ankit.

Ankit Sharma to Saransh Jain : This keeps low, on the shorter side, on middle, Saransh Jain goes deep in the crease for the pull but toe-ends the shot in front of square. Andre Siddarth puts in a dive at mid-wicket and prevents the single.

Ankit Sharma to Saransh Jain : Drifting onto the pads, Jain clips this full ball to mid-wicket.

Ankit Sharma to Saransh Jain : Sliding across, on a nagging length, Jain defends it out.