Dharamsala, Mar 18: Parvinder Awana took six for 49 as North Zone edged Central Zone by 22 runs in the second semi-final of the 2011-12 Deodhar Trophy played here at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala. After putting up a competitive score of 289 while batting first, Awana’s six-wicket haul, the best of his List A career, helped North Zone restrict their opponents to 267 for nine in 50 overs.
North Zone were in trouble early on after Central Zone won the toss and asked them to bat first. Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent both North Zone openers back to reduce them to 28 for two in 6.5 overs. However, half-centuries from Mandeep Singh (53) and Paras Dogra (71) steadied the North Zone innings and put them on course for a big score. Yashpal Bhatia and Rajat Bhatia then gave the North Zone innings a big lift as the pair struck a 79-run stand in just 10.2 overs. Yashpal hit a sizzling 70-ball 83 (8x4, 3x6) while Rajat dazzled with a 30-ball 40 (2x4, 3x6) as North Zone finished their 50 overs at 289 for the loss of eight wickets. For Central Zone, medium-pacer Shailender Gehlot was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with figures of 10-0-59-3.
Central Zone were on course for pulling off the chase for much of their innings with three of their top four batsman – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (51), Mohammad Kaif (60) and Ashok Menaria (51) – scoring half centuries. But with the score at 169 for two at the end of 33 overs, Awana took five of Central Zone’s next seven wickets to restrict them to 267 for nine in 50 overs. Ashish Yadav, batting at No. 8 for Central Zone, remained unbeaten with a 22-ball 24.
North Zone will now play West Zone in the 2011-12 Duleep Trophy final. The match will be played at the HPCA Stadium on March 19. West Zone had beaten East Zone by 108 runs in the first semi-final, played in Mohali on March 17, to qualify for the final.
Brief scores: North Zone 289/8 in 50.0 overs (Mandeep Singh 53, Paras Dogra 71, Yashpal Singh 83, Shailendar Gehlot 3/59) beat Central Zone 267/9 in 50.0 overs (Mohammad Kaif 60, Parvinder Awana 6/49) by 22 runs
