South Zone Falls Short As Central Zone Seals Duleep Trophy Win On Day Five

Central Zone clinched the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy, defeating South Zone by six wickets. They secured the victory on the fifth day at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru, on Monday.

Chasing only 65 runs, opener Akshay Wadkar remained unbeaten with 19, showing composure while wickets were falling on the other hand.

South Zone bowlers lacked enough runs to defeat, though Ankit Sharma and Gurjapneet Singh claimed two wickets apiece.

Sharma, who dismissed Central Zone Captain Rajat Patidar, but South Zone still failed to trouble their determined opponents.

Eventually, Yash Rathod partnered with Wadkar in the chase, guiding the Central Zone safely across the finish line together.

The match extended into day five mainly due to a magnificent seventh-wicket stand worth 192 runs earlier.

The partnership featured Ankit Sharma and C Andre Siddarth, who stubbornly resisted Central Zone bowlers with determined batting.

Before lunch on day four, Central Zone appeared destined for an innings victory, reducing South Zone effectively to 222/6.

Yet, Sharma and Siddharth frustrated bowlers considerably, temporarily reviving South Zone hopes with their spirited batting performance.

Ankit Sharma heartbreakingly fell one short of a century, dismissed for 99, sparking a dramatic collapse late in play.

The collapse left the South Zone vulnerable, allowing the Central Zone to enter day five firmly favoured to lift the trophy.

In the end, Wadkar and Radhod calmly completed the chase and lifted the trophy.

Brief Score: South Zone 149 and 426 lost to Central Zone 511 and 66/4 by six wickets.

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