Hyderabad, Jan 26: It was a Republic Day run-fest for South Zone during the first day of the Duleep Trophy semifinal played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal.
South Zone won the toss and elected to bat on what appeared to be a good batting wicket. Central Zone started well by getting rid of Robin Uthappa and Subramaniam Badrinath early.
But opener Abhinav Mukund and Karnataka batsman Manish Pandey took the opposition’s bowling attack apart.
Pandey raced to his double century off just 188 balls. Earlier, he took the aerial route to reach his century. Dropped while on 127 by Pankaj Singh, his blistering knock of 203 not-out, studded with seven sixes and 19 fours, was a treat to watch.
The 174-run third-wicket stand between A Mukund and Pandey came off 175 deliveries. Mukund too scored a century, eventually getting out on 105 to Pankaj Singh.
Central Zone bowlers RP Singh, Pankaj Singh and U Yadav each took two wickets.
At stumps on Day 1, South Zone’s 1st innings score was 416/8.
Brief score: South Zone 416/8 (89.2 ov), MK Pandey 203 (c), Abhinav Mukund 105, RP Singh - 2/98, Pankaj Singh - 2/85, U Yadav - 2/85
Central Zone team: HH Kanitkar (c), A Chopra, MD Mishra, NV Ojha (wk), M Kaif, AL Menaria, RP Singh, U Yadav, D Bundela, AA Wakhare, Pankaj Singh
South Zone: A Mukund, RV Uthappa, S Badrinath (c), MK Pandey, KD Karthik, Amit Verma, CM Gautam (wk), R Vinay Kumar, A Mithun, PP Ojha, S Aravind
