Duleep Trophy semi-final: South Zone gain upper hand after bowling out North Zone

South Zone took control of their Duleep Trophy semi-final against North Zone on day one after bowling North out, with disciplined bowling regularly breaking partnerships.

North Zone, sent in to bat, were restricted to 195 as South’s attack made regular breakthroughs. Qamran Iqbal provided the main resistance with a gritty 76 off 182 balls but received little support; captain Kanhaiya Wadhawan contributed 35 and combined with Iqbal for a 66-run fifth-wicket stand.

Vidhwath Kaverappa emerged as the decisive bowler for South, returning for a crucial second spell to dismantle North’s lower order. Kaverappa finished with figures of 4/66 as North lost their last five wickets for just 21 runs.

South’s bowlers kept applying pressure through the innings, preventing North from building sustained partnerships and ensuring the visitors did not post a larger total. The collapse after Wadhawan’s dismissal accelerated North’s innings toward its conclusion.

When stumps were drawn South were 40/2, with N Jagadeesan unbeaten on 34. At that score South trailed North’s first-innings total by 155 runs.

The Duleep Trophy semi-final remains in progress at stumps, with South Zone ahead after the opening day’s play.