Sharath guides South to narrow win

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, JAN. 28. A century, which combined plenty of dash with just enough caution, from the Tamil Nadu left-hander S. Sharath was the bedrock of South Zone's narrow two-wicket victory over Central in the Deodhar Trophy at the Brabourne Stadium today.

When Sharath was out with six runs needed in seven balls, South went through a few anxious moments. T. Kumaran then clouted two bold hits to take South past the target.

West Zone's defeat to East today means that South will meet North in a virtual final on January 31.

The match tested South's resolve all day after skipper Azharuddin chose to field. Central's 147-run opening partnership between left-hander Jyoti Yadav (76, 97b, 8x4) and Gagan Khoda (69, 100b, 8x4) lasted more than 31 overs in which the three medium pacers were treated with disdain. The advent of Kerala left-arm spinner Sreekumar Nair introduced some circumspection and it was the dual spin attack which finally made the breakthrough. S. Sriram removed Jyoti Yadav while J.P. Yadav was run out half-way down the wicket.

Central then broke free with Amay Khurasiya (67, 54b, 4x4, 3x6) and Devendra Bundela (48 not out, 47b, 1x4, 1x6) putting on 115 for the fourth wicket in just over 15 overs. S. Sriram, who bowled tightly, was slogged for 17 runs in what was his last over finishing with 8-0-43-1. Khurasiya hit three huge sixes, all off the unfortunate Sriram, two in one over. Bundela too hit a straight six off Dodda Ganesh. Central scored 88 in the last 10 overs.

By the end of the eighth over Central was in control with the in- form J. Arun Kumar, the explosive S. Mahesh and A. Nandakishore all sent back in a total of 49.

Mohammad Azharuddin, who was greeted with lots of cheers, and Sharath added 120 runs for the fourth wicket. Sharath was the more aggressive partner while Azharuddin kept rotating the strike. Azharuddin (64, 92b, 4x4, 1x6) fell to a fine running catch by Jyoti Yadav to off-spinner Gandhe, the best of Central's spinners.

Sharath looked the man to stay till the finish, but lost S. Sriram when South needed 103 in 14 overs. In wicketkeeper Reuben Paul Sharath found a player willing to hustle and the two put on 78 in 11 overs.

The scores:

Central Zone: Jyoti Yadav st Reuben Paul b Sriram 76, G. Khoda c Azharuddin b Kapoor 69, Jai Prakash Yadav (run out) 0, A. Khurasiya c Azharuddin b Kumaran 67, D. Bundela (not out) 48, H.S. Sodhi (not out) 0. Extras (lb-7, nb-2, w-3) 12. Total (for four wkts in 50 overs) 272.

Fall of wickets: 1-147, 2-147, 3-155, 4- 270.

South bowling: D. Ganesh 9-0-64-0, T. Kumaran 10-1-62-1, S. Mahesh 5-0-23-0, S. Nair 8-0-25-0, A. Kapoor 10-0-48-1, S. Sriram 8-0-43-1.

South Zone: S. Mahesh c Khurasiya b Sodhi 19, J. Arum Kumar c Pandey b Sodhi 7, A. Nanda Kishore c Mudgal b J.P. Yadav 3, M. Azharuddin c Jyoti Yadav b Gandhe 64, S. Sharath (run out) 113, S. Sriram c & b Gandhe 0, Reuben Paul c Khurasiya b Sodhi 31, A. Kapoor (not out) 7, S. Nair lbw b Pandey 2, T. Kumaran (not out) 6. Extras (b-4, lb-6, w-10, nb-3) 23. Total (for eight wkts in 49.4 overs) 276.

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-30, 3-49, 4- 169, 5-170, 6-248, 7-267, 8-270.

Central bowling: H.S. Sodhi 10-0-67-3, A. Zaidi 1-0-13-0, J.P. Yadav 10-0-45-1, Murali Kartik 10-0-35-0, P. Gandhe 10-0-44-2, G. Pandey 8.4-0-62-1.

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