Jadhav, Kanitkar shine in dull draw

Dhiraj Jadhav compiled a marathon century as West Zone batted out the final day for a dour draw against Central in the Duleep Trophy cricket match at the Devi Lal cricket stadium in Gurgaon on Tuesday.

West reached 352 for four in reply to Central's first innings total of 549.

With the first innings unfinished, the teams did not get points after four days of toil on a lifeless track.

Jadhav made 154 in a tortoise-like innings that lasted nine hours and 18 minutes, and consumed 445 balls. But only nine times did the ball go past the boundary rope.

Another patient knock came from Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who was unlucky to fall four short of a century. His 96 came after six hours and 45 minutes. He faced 285 balls and hit nine fours.

Kanitkar and Jadhav added 213 runs for the second wicket from 615 balls to grind the Central bowling to dust.

Jacob Martin remained unbeaten on 50 but his innings was no less in length, spanning 219 minutes and 181 balls with six fours.

Central next take on North Zone in the group match from Saturday while West have a bye.

Scoreboard

Central (1st innings): 549

West (1st innings):
V Mane c Deshpande b Bangar 10
D Jadav c Bundela b Parida 154
H Kanitkar st Deshpande b Parida 96
J Martin not out 50
K Aphale LBW b Harvinder Singh 0
N Mongia not out 16

Extras: (b-15, lb-7, nb-3, w-1) 26

Total: (for 4 wickets in 163 overs) 352

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-226, 3-315, 4-315.

Bowling: Harvinder Singh 28-12-49-1, Sanjay Bangar 20-8-34-1, J P Yadav 30-7-68-0, Kulamani Parida 37-11-75-2, Narendra Hirwani 37-6-79-0, Gyanendra Pandey 2-1-5-0, Gagan Khoda 3-0-12-0, Devendra Bundela 6-3-8-0.