Duleep Trophy Final: Central Zone close to title as Ravichandran Smaran departs for 64

Central Zone's Dominant Position

Central Zone established complete control of the match with their mammoth first-innings score of 511 runs, featuring centuries from captain Rajat Patidar (101) and Yash Rathod (194). Rathod narrowly missed his maiden double century, falling just six runs short in what proved to be a career-defining knock. Danish Malewar contributed a solid 53 runs to the total.

The first-innings performance gave Central Zone a massive 362-run lead after bowling out South Zone for just 149 in their opening innings. South Zone's batting collapse was orchestrated by Central Zone's spin duo of Saransh Jain (5/49) and Kumar Kartikeya (4/53), who shared nine wickets between them.

South Zone's Second Innings Fightback

Resuming their second innings at 129/2 on day three, South Zone showed improved batting application on the fourth day. However, their hopes took a significant hit when Mohammed Azharuddeen departed for 27 runs, followed by the dismissal of opener Mohit Kale for 38 and Tanmay Agarwal for 26.

Ravichandran Smaran emerged as the standout performer for South Zone in their second innings, displaying composure and technique that was missing in their first-innings collapse. His 64-run knock provided crucial resistance, but his departure leaves South Zone with limited batting depth remaining.

Current Match Situation

Despite crossing the 300-run mark in their second innings, South Zone still trail by less than 50 runs with only four wickets remaining. With Andre Siddarth and Ankit Sharma at the crease, South Zone face an uphill battle to avoid an innings defeat.

Central Zone's bowling attack, led by Saransh Jain and Kuldeep Sen, continues to apply pressure in favorable bowling conditions. The pitch has shown signs of wear, assisting the spinners who have been instrumental in Central Zone's dominance throughout the match.

Historical Context

This final represents a clash between two experienced Duleep Trophy contestants, with South Zone holding 13 titles compared to Central Zone's six championships. Both teams reached the final after their respective semifinals ended in draws, advancing based on first-innings leads.

The match situation heavily favors Central Zone, who appear on the verge of claiming their seventh Duleep Trophy title. South Zone's hopes now rest on their remaining batsmen to either force a draw or stage one of domestic cricket's greatest comebacks.