West Zone emerged victorious in a thrilling contest against Central Zone in the Deodhar Trophy, thanks to an outstanding half-century by Atit Sheth. In a nail-biting encounter, Sheth’s composed innings guided his team to a one-wicket win at the Siechem stadium in Puducherry.
West Zone got off to a solid start with Harvik Desai and captain Priyank Panchal providing a strong foundation. However, Central Zone’s Shivam Chaudhary struck crucial blows, putting his team in a favorable position. The middle overs saw Central Zone’s Karn Sharma, Aditya Sarwate, and part-timer Yash Kothari exerting control over West Zone with their tight bowling. Rajvardhan Hangargekar’s quickfire knock combined with Sheth’s smart batting turned the tide in West Zone’s favor, securing their second win in the tournament.
Sheth displayed maturity and temperament throughout his innings, carefully building partnerships with Shams Mulani and number 11 Chintan Gaja. Despite the relentless spin attack from Central Zone captain Venkatesh Iyer, Sheth remained calm and took his team over the finish line.
Earlier in the day, Central Zone posted a competitive total of 243 runs, thanks to a late flourish by Shivam Mavi, who scored 47 runs off 39 balls. The Central Zone innings struggled as Sheth and Hangargekar stifled the batters during the powerplay. Sheth, in particular, was outstanding, conceding only four runs in his first spell of five overs.
Yash Dubey and Upendra Yadav provided some resistance for Central Zone with a 50-run partnership, but Chintan Gaja’s breakthrough broke their momentum. Captain Iyer and Dubey added valuable runs, but Iyer’s aggressive approach eventually led to his dismissal. Mulani also claimed the wicket of the dangerous Rinku Singh, further restricting Central Zone’s acceleration. Karn Sharma’s quick knock of 44 runs and Mavi’s power-hitting in the end propelled Central Zone to a competitive total.
With this victory, West Zone showcased their resilience and ability to triumph in challenging situations. The game was a thrilling spectacle for fans, highlighting the competitive spirit of the Deodhar Trophy.
In conclusion, Atit Sheth’s brilliant half-century guided West Zone to a thrilling one-wicket win over Central Zone. The match had its fair share of twists and turns, but Sheth’s composed innings ensured West Zone emerged victorious in this humdinger of a contest.
