Powar has South in a twirl

Ramesh Powar spun a magic web, claiming seven wickets for 44 runs, to dismiss South Zone for 187 on the opening day of the four-day Duleep Trophy match at the Visakha stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

In reply, West Zone were 71 for three at stumps, with opener Dhiraj Jadhav (30 not out) at the crease.

After the pace trio of Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Irfan Pathan proved their fitness ahead of the crucial series against Pakistan with inspired spells to claim the first three wickets, off-spinner Powar opened the flood gates by dismissing Rahul Dravid (1) before claiming the remaining wickets for impressive figures of 22.5-6-44-7.

Electing to bat, South Zone were looking for a big score on the placid track but their formidable batting line-up was guilty of some reckless shot selection as they were skittled out 24 minutes into the extended tea session.

West Zone started tentatively with openers Dheeraj Jadhav and Satyajit Parab playing cautiously but South Zone got the breakthrough when Anil Kumble was introduced into the attack by skipper Dravid.

The leg spinner struck in his very first over to dismiss Parab for 13 and ended the day with 2 for 14.

Wasim Jaffer, who joined Jadhav, stepped up the pace of scoring, hitting 13 runs off L Balaji's one over with three hits to the fence.

Pathan and Agarkar opened the bowling attack for West and although they did not find much help from the pitch, they stuck to a good line and length troubling South Zone openers Robin Uthappa (5) and Roland Barrington (8) from the first over.

Pathan trapped Robin off a slower one and then Zaheer Khan sent back Barrington to have South Zone reeling at 25 for two.

Local hero Laxman started confidently hitting three fours but that was all he could do in his brief stay at the wicket as he miscued a hook off Agarkar, the ball landing in the safe hands of Pathan at square leg.

In between, Dravid became the first of the seven victims of Powar, caught by Neeraj Patel for one.

Zaheer and Pathan did prove that they were fully fit and their body language suggested that they were enjoying the game.

Sachin Tendulkar, who returned to action after missing the first match of the tournament owing to fitness problems, also looked at ease.

Kumble and Y Venugopala Rao provided some resistance by adding 54 runs for the seventh wicket after Dinesh Karthik (10) fell just after lunch.

The duo picked some useful runs while West Zone skipper Tendulkar shuffled Zaheer and Pathan from one end while continuing with Powar from the other.

Zaheer was unlucky for the second time when Neeraj Patel dropped Kumble, when he was on 14. He was also unlucky to have missed Laxman's wicket when Parab could not latch on to a difficult chance.

Jaffer took a neat catch to send Kumble back to the pavilion for a well-made 28 off 69 balls with four hits to the fence.

Venugopal Rao made a valiant effort and tried to stand his ground but Powar deceived him with his flight with Jaffer taking his second catch to dismiss the Andhra Ranji skipper for 37.

L Balaji provided some late entertainment by scoring 35 off 51 balls, hitting the solitary six of the day and one boundary before South Zone were dismissed.

Scorecard

South Zone (1st innings):
Robin Uthappa lbw Irfan Pathan 5
Roland Barrignton lbw Zaheer Khan 8
V V S Laxman c Irfan b Agarkar 29
Rahul Dravid c N Patel b R Powar 1
S Sriram c D Jadav b R Powar 14
Y Venugopala Rao c W Jaffer b R Powar 37
Dinesh Kartik c D Jadav b R Powar 10
Anil Kumble c W Jaffar b R Powar 28
L Balaji c Rajesh b R Powar 35
R Vinay Kumar lbw R Powar 1
R Jesuraj not out 3