Guwahati: Yusuf Pathan and Vijay Zol came up with fine half centuries to help West Zone beat South Zone by five wickets and enter the final of the Deodhar Trophy here on Tuesday. West will now take on North Zone in the final on Wednesday.
Batting first South Zone made 258 for five in their 50 overs with Stuart Binny (65) and Sachin Baby (58) scoring half centuries. In reply, West Zone reached the target in 41.1 overs, courtesy Yusuf's 53-ball-68. Yusuf hit eight boundaries and two sixes. Meanwhile India U-19 player Vijay Zol played an important innings for the winners and scored 75 off 88 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and a six.
Though South had an edge in the first seven overs when West were reduced to 26 for two with opener Parthiv Patel (14) and Manpreet Juneja (1) back in the hut, however, a 71-run stand between Zol and Ambati Rayudu (31) helped West steady the ship. Once Rayudu was dismissed by left-arm spinner Sudhakar, Pathan walked in. Initially, he didn't take any risks but later went after the bowlers hitting Aparajith over deep mid-wicket for six and a Sudhakar delivery was sent soaring over the sightscreen. He with Zol added 66 runs in a shade over 11 overs after which Zol was dismissed by R Vinay Kumar. Kedar Jadhav (56 not out) then smashed eight fours in 44 balls to finish off the contest.
Brief Scores: South Zone 258/5 (Stuart Binny 65, Sachin Baby 58, Munaf Patel 2/48, Abhishek Nayar 2/49) lost to West Zone 259/5 in 41.1 overs (Vijay Zol 75, Yusuf Pathan 68, Kedar Jadhav 56 not out).
BY ISN
