Duleep Trophy: Pathan seals record-breaking win for West Zone

HYDERABAD: West Zone created a world record in first class cricket by successfully chasing down a mammoth 536-run target to clinch the Duleep Trophy with a dramatic three-wicket victory, riding on Yusuf Pathan's scintillating double century.

Yusuf's phenomenal unbeaten 210, his maiden first class double century, steered West Zone to a sensational win as they scored 541/7 to lift the Duleep Trophy for the 16th time on an eventful final day's play.

The win marked the highest successful run chase in the history of first class cricket although the total, 541 for seven, is not the highest fourth-innings total.

Teams have scored more runs in their fourth innings in the past but they never resulted in a victory.

England had scored 654/5 while chasing 696 to win against South Africa in Durban way back in 1938-39. The match was drawn after 10 days.

Maharashtra had scored 604 in their second innings while chasing an impossible 959 to win against the then Bombay in 1948-49 in Poona, now Pune.

Everything depended on Yusuf when West resumed at 379/6 and he did not disappoint his team and fans as he stood their like a rock till the job was done.

Resuming at the individual score of 84 along with other overnight partner Pinal Shah, Yusuf cashed in on the three dropped chance and made South Zone bowlers pay heavily.

Scoreboard:

South Zone 1st Innings: 400
West Zone 1st Innings: 251
South Zone 2nd Innings : 386/9 decl
West Zone 2nd Innings: (Overnight 379/6) CR Pathak b Absolem 130 HH Khadiwale c Gautam b Anirudha 45 W Jaffer lbw b Ganapathy 66 BD Thaker c Gautam b Aravind 0 Y Pathan not out 210 RA Jadeja b Aushik Srinivas 1 I Pathan b Absolem 42 PR Shah c & b Prem 16 RR Powar not out 18
Extras (B-2, LB-1, W-4, NB-6) 13
Total (for 7 wickets in 136.3 overs) 541
Fall of wickets: 1-117, 2-224, 3-239, 4-263, 5-294, 6-378, 7-483.

Bowling : C Ganapathy 33-7-96-1, A Absolem 23-2-79-2, S Aravind 24.3-3-99-1, R Aushik Srinivas 37-4-157-1, S Anirudha 3-0-14-1, PR Prem 13-1-81-1, AB Karthik 3-0-12-0.

Powar powers West to Duleep Trophy

Chennai: Ramesh Powar wrecked South Zone with a 10-wicket match haul as West Zone lifted their 17th Duleep Trophy title after overwhelming the hosts by 274 runs in the five-day final here on Monday.

Chasing an improbable 678 for victory, South Zone ended at 403 for nine after injured tail-ender Vinay Kumar did not come out to bat.

Off-spinner Powar starred with the ball for West Zone and ended with a match haul of 10 for 187, seven of which came in the second innings.

Powar finished the second innings with figures of 7/140.

Resuming at overnight 232 for three, skipper S Badrinath (59) and wicketkeeper Dinesh Kaarthick (75) toiled hard before their dismissal triggered a collapse.

The duo put on 121 runs for the fourth wicket before Badrinath was caught at long on by Powar off the bowling of Rajesh Pawar.

Badrinath, a centurion in the first innings, stroked eight fours during his fighting knock in the second essay. Kaarthick was unfortunate to be dismissed hit wicket off Powar.

While watching the ball go to the 'keeper after shouldering a Powar delivery, Kaarthick dragged his right leg back ending up disturbing the stumps in the process.

Kaarthick hit five fours and three sixes during his stay at the crease.

R Ashwin played a valiant unbeaten 46-run innings -- studded with eight fours -- and combined with M Suresh (28) for a half-century stand but the host team's tail could not offer much support.

Shadab Jakati contributed 22 runs but the match and the title had all but gone to West Zone by then.

Powar scalped five of the six wickets that fell Monday on a crumbling pitch.

For West Zone's Wasim Jaffer, the triumph rounded off a brilliant season as he had led Mumbai to the Ranji Trophy title earlier.

Soruce: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/powar-powers-west-to-duleep-trophy/38141-13.html