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Duleep Trophy 2023 Final | R Sai Kishore Stars With The Ball as South Zone Clinch Title

image-lk5a5qd2South Zone's Tilak Varma with the Duleep Trophy [Twitter]

In a remarkable turn of events, South Zone clinched the Duleep Trophy 2023 title, defeating West Zone by a 75-run margin in the final on Sunday. Chasing a steep target of 298 runs, West Zone were bundled out for 222 in their second innings, losing the game comprehensively in this process. 


R Sai Kishore's four-fer derails West Zone 

The fifth day began with West Zone placed at 182 for five, with Priyank Panchal and Atit Seth batting in the middle. Thus, they required 116 runs to win with five wickets in hand, a technically possible task. 

However, they had a disastrous start to the day, losing skipper Panchal to promising seamer Vidhwath Kaverappa in 65th over. Before getting knocked over, the right-handed batter amused everyone with his stoicism, striking 95 runs, including eleven glorious boundaries, off 211 deliveries. 

The captain's departure opened the floodgates for West Zone, who lost wickets at frequent intervals. After Kaverappa initiated the collapse, wily left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore joined the party, rattling West Zone's lower order and helping South Zone secure an emphatic victory. As a result of sensational four-wicket hauls from V Koushik and Sai Kishore, West Zone were eventually bowled out for 222 in 84.2 overs. 


Brief Scores

South Zone 1st inns: 213 (78.4)
Hanuma Vihari 63, Tilak Varma 40;
Shams Mulani 3/29, Chintan Gaja 2/27 

West Zone 1st inns: 146 (51)
Prithvi Shaw 65, Harvik Desai 21;
Vidhwath Kaverappa 7/53, Vyshak Vijay Kumar 2/33

South Zone 2nd inns: 230 (81.1)
Hanuma Vihari 42, Ricky Bhui 37;
Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 5/40, Atit Seth 2/38

West Zone 2nd inns: 222 (84.2)
Priyank Panchal 95, Sarfaraz Khan 48;
V Koushik 4/36, R Sai Kishore 4/57

South Zone won by 75 runs.