DULEEP TROPHY, 2025
![Patidar [file pic] led from the front with a century on Day 2.](https://www.cricbuzz.com/a/img/v1/595x396/i1/c751022/patidar-file-pic-led-from-th.jpg "Patidar [file pic] led from the front with a century on Day 2.")
Patidar [file pic] led from the front with a century on Day 2. © BCCI/IPL
Tons from Rajat Patidar and Yash Rathod has completely put Central Zone on top in the Duleep Trophy final in Bengaluru. Under the pump for the second straight day, South Zone find themselves on the brink of a heavy defeat with their opponents already holding a lead of 235 runs with five wickets still in hand.
South Zone actually did begin the day in bright fashion when V Koushik broke the opening partnership by castling Akshay Wadkar. Gurjapneet Singh then managed to strike as well, much to the bowling side’s delight and that brought Patidar out to the middle.
The impressive Danish Malewar brought up a patient half-century with a cover drive that went to the boundary before Patidar got going with successive fours in the following over. But Gurjapneet struck again, this time finding the outside edge of Malewar as South Zone sensed an opportunity to stage a comeback.
However, those hopes vanished pretty quick with Patidar joining forces with Rathod to keep South Zone at bay. Rathod took 20 balls to get off the mark and his first two boundaries were off the edge. However, he slowly grew in confidence with both batters carrying Central Zone past South Zone’s paltry total in very little time.
Patidar was the aggressive among the two and his strike rate went up a notch when he took on Ricky Bhui for 4, 6, 4 before entering the 90s by smashing another four and a six off Gurjapneet. With the lead now over 100, Patidar brought up his century before Gurjapneet provided his side some relief by removing the skipper with a short ball. With Upendra Yadav not lasting longer, South Zone would have hoped for a chance to break into the lower order but Rathod and Saransh Jain stood firm and thwarted those plans. Saransh remained unbeaten on 47 off 119 deliveries by stumps whereas Rathod made merry in the final session to finish on 137* to pretty much pummel the bowling side to submission.
Brief scores: Central Zone 384/5 (Yash Rathod 137*, Rajat Patidar 101; Gurjapneet Singh 3/74) lead South Zone 149 by 235 runs
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