Chasing 299 Target, West Zone Faces Tight Finish in Dhalip Trophy Quarter‑Final

Bengaluru, August 25 – The Dhalip Trophy’s second quarter‑final match at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 turned into a high‑stakes chase as West Zone set out to chase a daunting 299‑run target. North Zone, after winning the toss, posted 251 in the first innings, losing two early wickets at 45 runs. Ayush Badoni and Ayush Dosaja steadied the innings with a 72‑run partnership; Dosaja was dismissed for 42, while Badoni added 51.

A late surge by Abid Mushtaq and Anshul Kamboj added 48 runs, with Kamboj’s rapid 60 off 52 balls featuring five sixes and five fours. Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande each claimed two wickets for West Zone.

West Zone’s reply faltered at 187 runs. Shams Mulani topped the scorecard with 52, and Mushir Khan contributed 31. Mushtaq’s five‑wicket haul and Arshdeep Singh’s three wickets dismantled the chase.

North Zone entered the second innings with a 76‑run lead and posted 222, setting a target of 299. Badoni’s half‑century, packed with six fours, and Nishant Sandhu’s 44 helped the total. Mulani and Kotian each took two wickets for West Zone.

By the end of day three, West Zone had reached 220 for 7. After a shaky start at 28 runs for two wickets, Mushir Khan and Shivalik Sharma added 56 runs, and captain Rituraj Gayakwad’s 111 lifted the side back into contention. Khan was out for 96, hitting two sixes and eight fours, while Gayakwad made 66. Mushtaq had already taken two wickets, and Arshdeep Singh, Kamboj, Sandhu and Sunil Kumar each claimed a wicket.