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Central may avoid follow-on, but North set to enter final

At stumps today, Central Zone needed just 15 runs to avoid a follow-on, thanks to an unbeaten 122 by Raja Ali and some inept bowling by North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final match being played in Guwahati at the Maligaon Railway Stadium.

When stumps were drawn for the fourth day, Central Zone were 328 for 7 in reply to the North's first innings total of 543.

Ali, batting since yesterday afternoon, displayed remarkable patience and resilience to reach his second first-class ton. His unbeaten innings of 674 minutes exposed the hollowness of the North attack, which included some-time India players Nikhil Chopra and Robin Singh, Jr.

For more than two days, the Central batsmen frustrated North with a pragmatic approach. Resuming at the overnight 149 for three, Jyoti Yadav and Raja Ali took the total to 185 before Yadav was adjudged caught behind trying to flick a rising ball from Rajinder Singh Sodhi that only brushed his thigh pad.

The controversial decision came from umpire Sekhar Choudhury. By then, Yadav had scored 70 crucial runs during his stay at the crease for 383 minutes, adding 74 vital runs for the fourth wicket with Ali. The partnership helped stabilise the Central innings.

After Yadav fell, Captain Gyanendra Pandey joined Ali, but lasted only seven deliveries before he as he gave a simple catch to Rajinder Singh Sodhi off Nikhil Chopra. That was Chopra's lone success in 36 overs.

But Ali kept playing the deliveries on merit and never attempted any risky shots to take Central's total to 219 for six at lunch.

After lunch, he got unexpected support from Mohammed Saif who showed remarkable resilience and frustrated all the attempts of North captain Vikram Rathore to get him out.

Saif had joined Ali after Robin Singh, Jr, had picked up his third wicket, getting Saurav Shukla caught behind. Saif and Ali added 91 runs for the seventh wicket. Like Ali, Saif showed no nervousness and defended his wicket for 151 minutes while scoring 35 valuable runs in his 103-ball stay at the crease.

He was finally adjudged lbw off Dinesh Mongia, a decision which left him hugely disappointed. But at stumps Raja Ali remained unbeaten on 122, playing 283 balls during his 426-minute stay at the crease and scoring 16 fours and a six.

In the post-tea session, he was troubled by Robin Singh, but bad light saw him carrying his bat through for another day. He also survived a scare at 101 when Mongia floored an easy chance. The other not out batsman was Ashish Winston Zaidi with 12.

North, however, was certain to move into the final against West as Central is still 215 runs behind with three wickets in hand.

UNI

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