Deodhar Trophy: Kunnummal century takes South Zone to title

Rohan Kunnummal saved his finest for the massive stage as he slammed a wide ranging 107 (75b, 11×4, 4×6) to assist South Zone to the Deodhar Trophy title after beating East Zone by 45 runs in a high-scoring and thrilling remaining right here on the Siechem Stadium on Thursday.

Electing to bat, Rohan and skipper Mayank Agarwal (64) stitched a 181-run opening wicket stand off simply 152 balls to assist set the platform for South to submit an enormous rating of 328 for eight.

In reply, East stuttered at the beginning and slumped to 13 for 3, with V. Koushik taking two early wickets whereas Kaverappa took the opposite.

But simply when it seemed like South would run away with it, Riyan Parag (95, 65b, 8×4, 5×6) and Kumar Kushagra (68, 58b, 6×4, 3×6) turned issues round – as they’ve carried out just a few instances on this event – with some sensational hitting in a 105-run stand for the sixth wicket. 

ALSO READ: I all the time wish to dominate the sport, says East keeper-batter Kushagra

Parag placed on a masterclass of backfoot energy hitting as he punished the South bowlers even when they have been a contact brief, repeatedly pulling pacers and spinners alike with disdain over the midwicket fence. 

After a gradual begin on the different finish, Kushagra joined the celebration, hitting Koushik for 3 boundaries with trendy pulls and cuts in a single over. He then took on Washington Sundar (3/60), hitting him for 3 sixes over the leg aspect, the primary of which bought him to his half-century.

Fortunately for South, Washington had the final chortle, trapping Parag leg-before after which had Kushagra caught at extensive long-on to assist South Zone do the Duleep and Deodhar Trophy double.

In the afternoon, Rohan got here with an uncluttered thoughts to take the assault to the opposition and stored lofting the East Zone pacers over the 30-yard circle. 

After getting a reprieve on 41 when Parag dropped him off Akash Deep, the Kerala batter hit consecutive boundaries off the identical bowler to deliver up his half-century in simply 33 balls. 

He by no means let the depth down and took on the spinners, stepping right down to Shahbaz Ahmed and hitting him for consecutive sixes. 

Rohan then bought to his century in model, off simply 69 balls, when he smashed Parag for a boundary by off-side and a six over long-on off successive deliveries.

Though East fought again within the center overs with its spinners by drying up the runs, N. Jagadeesan’s (54) grinding half-century ensured South ended up with an above-par rating, which proved sufficient.