North Zone in the driver's seat

North Zone skipper Mithun Manhas scored his maiden double hundred while his Delhi teammate Akash Chopra struck an identical unbeaten 205 to put North Zone in commanding position against East Zone in their four-day Duleep Trophy match in Rajkot on Wednesday.

Manhas and Chopra added 368 runs for the unseparated third wicket as North Zone piled up 459 runs for the loss of just two wickets in 103.5 overs and declared to set East Zone a winning target of 677 runs.

Chopra stayed 418 minutes at the crease and faced 294 balls to complete his second double century in which he hit 21 fours while his captatin was more aggressive completing his maiden double hundred spending 335 minutes at the crease facing 258 balls with 26 fours and two sixes.

Manhas crossed the milestone in style by lifting straight to left arm leg spinner Tushar Saha for six. Soon after completing his double hundred, the North Zone skipper declared the inning and set huge 677 runs to East Zone in remaining 12 overs of the day and an entire full session on Thursday.

East Zone had a shaky start in their second innings, losing opener Wriddhiman Saha for two.

At stumps, East Zone were 28 for one with captain Shiv Sundar Das batting on 18 in company of Arindam Das (2).