Mohali, Mar 16: Central Zone defeated South Zone by four wickets to set up a semi-final encounter with North Zone in the 2011-12 Deodhar Trophy. After restricting South Zone to 224, Central Zone brought up the winning runs in just 39.3 overs with four wickets in hand.
Winning the toss and putting South Zone in to bat, the Central Zone bowlers, led by medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (three for 43) and offspinner Jalaj Saxena (three for 39), kept their opponents in check right through the first innings. South Zone captain, Dinesh Karthik, struck a solitary half-century (52) but with Piyush Chawla also taking two for 48, Central Zone restricted South Zone to 224 for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs.
Chasing a below-par score at the PCA stadium in Mohali, Central Zone openers Naman Ojha (26 off 23) and Jalaj Saxena (32 off 26) gave the team a quick start. Mohammad Kaif (50) and Ashok Menaria (37) then consolidated Central Zone’s position with a 61-run stand for the third wicket. Both batsmen were eventually removed by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (two for 39), but with Piyush Chawla hitting a brisk 25-ball 34 lower down the order, Central Zone cruised home with 63 balls left to be bowled in the match.
The result means that Central Zone will now clash with North Zone in the second semi-final of the 2011-12 Deodhar Trophy on March 18 in Dharamsala. Meanwhile, the first semi-final will be played between East Zone and West Zone a day earlier, on March 17, in Mohali.
Brief scores: Central Zone 225/6 in 39.3 overs (Mohammad Kaif 50, Ashok Menaria 37, Pragyan Ojha 2/39) beat South Zone 224/9 in 50.0 overs (Dinesh Karthik 52, Rohan Prem 38, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/43, Jalaj Saxena 3/39) by four wickets
