North Zone register a solid start against Central

Jamshedpur, Oct 27 (UNI) Wtih the help of some solid middle order batting North zone posted 310 for five against Central zone on the opening day of the four-day Duleep Trohpy tie at the Keenan stadum here today.

Winning the toss North zone skipper Mithun Manhas decided to bat on a good batting strip but North received jolt in the very begining as Test discard Akash Chopra was adjudged leg before off Praveen Kumar for one.

But then in form Gautam Gambhir and Ravneet Ricky (20) consolidated the innings and they put 56 runs in the second wicket stand.

Gambhir,who was 67 not out at lunch,however,lost his concentration just after the break as he tried to hit J P Yadav on the off side but miscued and Brajesh Tomar took a fine catch at gully postion.

His 70 runs consisted of seven hits to the fence.

Yashpal Singh,who made a solid 74 with the help of nine fours and two sixes and was the top scorer for his side also contributed 67 runs with Gambhir in the third wicket partnership and then contributed handsonmely with Mahesh Rawat before being hit wicket off Yadav.

Though captain Manhas was out cheaply for two,but Joginder Sharma and Rawat played sensibly and put 99 valuable runs in the unfinished sixth wicket stand and paved the way for big total for the North.The former particularly scored fluently with an unbeaten 65(9x4,2x6) and while the latter remained not out on 59 (9x4).

For Central zone captain Yadav was the most successful bowler picking up two wickets for 50 runs while Praveen Kumar,Anand Rajan and Piyush Chawal bagged one wicket apiece.

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