Sarath stars in South Zone's thrilling win

South Zone's victory over Central Zone was achieved with only two deliveries to spare. Put in to bat, Central Zone were given an excellent start with openers Jyoti Yadav (76) and Gagan Khoda (69) putting on 147 runs off 31.2 overs. But they were pegged back a bit when they lost two wickets in one over. First, Yadav was stumped by Reuben Paul off left arm spinner S Sriram. He faced 97 balls and hit eight fours. Four balls later, Jaiprakash Yadav was run out for zero.

When Khoda was caught by Azharuddin off Aashish Kapoor in the 35th over, Central Zone at 155 for three, had lost much of the momentum given by the opening pair. Khoda faced 100 balls and hit eight fours. But Central Zone's hopes of putting together a challenging total were revived by a fourth wicket partnership of 115 runs off 15.3 overs between Amay Khurasia and D Bundela. It was not until the last over that the partnership was broken with Khurasia caught by Azharuddin off Kumaran for 67. Batting aggressively, he compiled his runs off only 54 balls, with the help of four fours and three sixes. Bundela at the end remained unbeaten with 48 off 47 balls, inclusive of a six and a four as Central Zone did finally get to their objective of posting a challenging total - 272 for five off 50 overs.

South Zone's in form openers J Arun Kumar and S Mahesh started off in bright fashion putting on 29 runs from four overs. But HS Sodhi rocked South Zone by dismissing both of them in the space of three deliveries. The fall of A Nandakishore at 49 was another blow. But South Zone were set back on course with Md Azharuddin and S Sarath adding 120 runs for the fourth wicket off 27.4 overs. Pradeep Gandhe then brought Central Zone back into the favourites circle by dismissing Azharuddin and Sriram in the same over. Azharuddin hit 64 off 91 balls with the help of four fours and a six. But at 170 for five after 36 overs, South Zone's hopes had received a setback.

Sarath and Reuben Paul then got together for the sixth wicket and their breezy partnership of 78 runs off 11 overs brought South Zone roaring back into the game. When Paul was out for 31 off 32 balls, South Zone were 248 for six after 47 overs. In three overs, they required 25 runs.

As the match entered the `home stretch' the left handed Sarath continued to bat courageously before he was run out in the 49th over for 113. The Tamil Nadu left hander faced 134 balls and hit 10 fours and two sixes. South Zone, which required 15 runs off the last overs, brought the target down to four off the last over. Off the second ball of the last over, bowled by Gyanandrey Pandey, S Nair was bowled and South Zone had lost eight wickets. New batsman T Kumaran hit the first ball he faced for two runs to level the scores and then slammed a boundary off the next to signal South Zone's thrilling victory. Kapoor was the other not out batsman with eight. Sodhi finished as the most successful bowler with three for 67 while Gandhe took two for 44.