Duleep Trophy Final: Mayank Agarwal and Vihari Extend South Zone's Lead after Early Wicket

Morning session

Day 3 of the Duleep Trophy final saw Mayank Agarwal and captain G H Vihari steadying the ship for South Zone after the early dismissal of opener Samarth R. Their partnership of 49 runs helped South Zone extend their lead over West Zone to 124 runs at lunch. Here is a summary of the session's action and the scorecard:

Score Summary:( till luuch)

West Zone: 146 /10

A Sheth: 12 runs

D A Jadeja: 6 runs

South Zone: 65/2

Mayank Agarwal: 23* runs

G H Vihari: 25* runs

West Zone's Quick Fall:

Starting the day at 129/7, West Zone's lower-order batsmen struggled to build partnerships. A Sheth scored 12 runs before being caught by Ricky Bhui off the bowling of Vidwath Kaverappa and D A Jadeja managed only 6 runs before getting bowled by Kaverappa. C T Gaja held his ground and remained not out on 4 runs.

West Zone All Out for 146:

West Zone's innings came to a close at 146 runs. Vidwath Kaverappa was the pick of the bowlers for South Zone, claiming 7 wickets and putting his team in a strong position.

South Zone's Solid Start:

In their second innings, South Zone faced an early setback as Samarth R was bowled by C T Gaja for 5 runs. However, Mayank Agarwal and captain G H Vihari displayed resilience, putting on a crucial 49-run partnership. Mayank Agarwal contributed 23 runs, while Vihari remained unbeaten on 25 runs.

Fall of Wickets:

South Zone:

5 - Samarth R (3.1 ov)

8 - Tilak Varma (4.2 ov)

West Zone's Batting Collapse:

West Zone's struggle with the bat continued as they grappled against the probing lines and lengths of the South Zone bowlers. The top order failed to make significant contributions, with A Sheth emerging as the highest scorer with 12 runs. However, even Sheth's resistance was short-lived as he was dismissed by Vidwath Kaverappa. Shams Mulani and A Nagwaswalla departed without adding any runs to the team's total, while D A Jadeja managed a meager 6 runs before falling prey to Kaverappa's bowling prowess. C T Gaja showcased some resistance in the lower order with an unbeaten 4 runs.

In their second innings, South Zone faced an early blow as Samarth R fell victim to C T Gaja's impressive bowling, departing after contributing 5 runs. However, the Indian test opener Mayank Agarwal, known for his aggressive stroke play, joined forces with captain G H Vihari to resurrect the innings. The duo showcased a masterclass in batting, exhibiting a blend of caution and aggression. They forged a crucial partnership of 49 runs, exhibiting great technique and determination to weather the storm. Mayank Agarwal showcased his elegant strokeplay, accumulating 23 valuable runs, while Vihari displayed solid defensive skills and remained unbeaten on 25 runs.

Conclusion:

The morning session on Day 3 witnessed an early fall of wickets for West Zone, resulting in their innings being wrapped up for 146 runs. Vidwath Kaverappa starred with the ball for South Zone, taking four crucial wickets. In their second innings, South Zone showed resilience through Mayank Agarwal and captain G H Vihari, who forged a strong partnership to extend their lead. As the match progresses into the post-lunch session, it will be interesting to see if West Zone's bowlers can stage a comeback or if Mayank and Vihari can continue their impressive batting display.