Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 24 (ANI): Left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq and pacer Arshdeep Singh produced impressive spells as North Zone gained the upper hand over West Zone on Day 2 of their Duleep Trophy 2026 quarterfinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 on Monday.
After bowling West Zone out for 187, North Zone secured a crucial 64-run first-innings lead. They then reached 107/4 in their second innings by stumps, extending their overall lead to 171 runs.
Resuming their first innings at 31/2, West Zone struggled to build partnerships as Mushtaq kept the batters under pressure with his accurate bowling. Musheer Khan offered some resistance with a patient 126-ball 31, but West Zone continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Shams Mulani provided the biggest contribution for West Zone, battling to a resilient 52, but Arshdeep and Mushtaq combined to clean up the lower order. Arshdeep finished with figures of 3/53, while Mushtaq claimed an impressive 5/39 as West Zone were dismissed for 187 runs in 65.4 overs.
North Zone's second innings began poorly, with Yash Dhull falling for a five-ball duck after being trapped LBW by Mulani. Ayush Badoni then took the attack to the bowlers, hitting an unbeaten 39 off 49 deliveries, while Abdul Samad contributed 30 off 34 balls.
West Zone's spin duo of Tanush Kotian and Mulani struck twice each, but Badoni and captain Kanhaiya Wadhawan, unbeaten on eight, ensured North Zone finished the day with a healthy lead of 171 runs.
Earlier, North Zone had posted 251 in their first innings after recovering from 161/7. Badoni scored 51 before Anshul Kamboj launched a counter-attacking assault, smashing 60 off 52 balls with five fours and five sixes. Tushar Deshpande and Kotian had taken four wickets each for West Zone.
North Zone will enter Day 3 in a strong position, holding a 171-run overall lead with six wickets remaining. (ANI)
Abid Mushtaq, Arshdeep Singh star as North Zone seize control against West Zone on Day 2 of Duleep Trophy QF
