Central takes opening day's honours

By K.C. Vijaya Kumar

PANAJI, FEB. 1. The toss rolled in favour of South Zone. That was its last bit of good news as the Duleep Trophy match against Central Zone commenced at the Panjim Gymkhana ground here on Thursday. Skipper Rahul Dravid falling sick with flu triggered South's litany of woes and anguish had an extended run as a first innings score of 141 negated stand-in skipper V.V.S. Laxman's decision to bat.

At close, Central Zone had posted 178 for two and skipper Amay Khurasiya smiled after a perfect day in office for him. His seamers, led by Devendra Bundela (four for 58), exploited the pitch and to top an all-smiles day, Khurasiya's 51 and Gagan Khoda's unbeaten 87 had gifted Central the first innings lead.

Earlier, South failed to get rid of its Agartala hangover. Seamers Bundela and Shalabh Srivastava, did probe the off-stump line but South batsmen have only themselves to blame. Central's debutant wicket-keeper Rohit Jhalani pouched five snicks and it was an index of South's wayward batting.

The steady march to the pavilion started with Sriram's circumspect flick choking at short-leg. Hope did stir as skipper V.V.S. Laxman marched in. An avalanche of runs in the domestic circuit and the resultant confidence did echo briefly as Laxman pulled Bundela for four. However nemesis struck next ball as an attempt to steer gave 'keeper Jhalani his first scalp.

South pegged its revival act on Vijay Bharadwaj and he delivered with a 50 (109b, 8 x 4). The India discard carpeted the cover fence at Bundela's expense, reverted to a doughty demeanour and when the tail flickered, launched into drives as South groaned past the 100-mark.

Starting blues briefly hit Central when J.P. Yadav ran a suicidal second. There were no further alarms as opener Khoda (87 batting, 148b, 10 x 4, 3 x 6) and Khurasiya (51, 49b, 8 x 4, 1 x 6) chimed in a 98-run second-wicket stand. Khoda did look ungainly tackling Srinath's bouncers but later on flowered against the spinners with some well-timed drives.

Khurasiya's best was a pull off Srinath for a six and the speedster's agony continued when Sriram (at fine-leg) and Joshi (gully) grassed the Central skipper. Khurasiya eventually succumbed to an uppish sweep. Al close, Mohammad Kaif helped Khoda hold firm as South ran bereft of ideas.

Selection foibles did mire South as Raju replaced Balaji Rao despite the team management's earlier stance of playing all three India probables. Hemang Badani plugged Dravid's absence and Nandakishore was retained. Central Zone made three changes with Gagan Khoda, R. Jhalani and Narendra Hirwani replacing Amit Pagnis, Abhay Kumar and Raja Ali.

The scores:

South Zone - 1st innings: S. Sriram c Goud b Bundela 14, Nandakishore c Yadav b Bundela 2, V.V.S. Laxman c Jhalani b Bundela 10, Hemang Badani c Jhalani b Srivastava 5, Vijay Bharadwaj c Kartik b Yadav 50, Thilak Naidu c Jhalani b Yadav 4, Sunil Joshi b Kartik 17, Aashish Kapoor c Jhalani b Bundela 10, J. Srinath (run out) 0, Venkatapathy Raju c Jhalani b Yadav 8, Venkatesh Prasad (not out) 0, Extras (lb-5, nb-16) 21, Total (all out in 42.5 overs) 141.

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-18, 3-31, 4-43, 5-62, 6-104, 7-124, 8- 126, 9-134.

Central bowling: Salabh Srivastava 11-0- 29-1, Devendra Bundela 16-2-58-4, J.P. Yadav 13.5-1-46-3, Murali Kartik 1-0-3-1.

Central Zone - 1st innings: J.P. Yadav (run out) 8, Gagan Khoda (batting) 87, Amay Khurasiya c Bharadwaj b Kapoor 51, Mohd. Kaif (batting) 28, Extras (lb-4) 4, Total (for two wickets in 45 overs) 178.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-106.

South bowling: J. Srinath 8-1-33-0, Venkatesh Prasad 12-2-40-0, Aashish Kapoor 12-1-57-1, Sunil Joshi 7-2-26-0, Venkatapathy Raju 5-2-13-0, Vijay Bharadwaj 1-0-5-0.

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