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So, after another successful domestic tournament, we can safely say that Indian cricket's depth, variety and quality is right up there with any other country, if not better. The Final was proof of just that. East Zone produced a fightback of epic proportions to try and win the match from a near hopeless situation and they just about managed doing so! But, South Zone were good enough to hold fort and produce yet another thoroughly professional performance to win every game of the tournament and lift the D.B. Deodhar Trophy for the season, immediately after tasting success in red-ball cricket with the Duleep Trophy. We hope you enjoyed our coverage and we definitely look forward to bringing you much more from out domestic cricket in the near future. For now, this is the trio of Arya, Soorya and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda!
Mayank Agarwal (South Zone captain): (First thoughts) Really proud of the boys, the intensity with which we played right through the tournament helped in this outcome. (On the approach) I thought we were not complacent at all. Even after winning the Duleep Trophy, the focus was well and truly on the this tournament and even after reaching the final, the sole concentration was on winning this match. (On whether there were some nerves at one point in the 2nd innings) It did get a bit tense with Riyan Parag and Kumar Kushagra out in the middle but the bowlers pulled things off pretty well, making sure of the longer boundary here and making their batters hit to those. (On his own form) I'm happy to keep playing this way, the runs are coming and I know that I can get better this season.
Riyan Parag is the Player of the Tournament for his stupendous all-round performances throughout the campaign. Here's what he has to say: (Looked like he would win his team the game today) That was the plan - me and Kumar, we talked things through. It was unfortunate that I got out and after two overs Kushagra got out. I would have been totally satisfied if I would have won the game tonight but pretty happy with the way I've batted and bowled. (On his bowling) I've been very fortunate to have two legends in my IPL team too. I talk to Ash and Yuzi bhai about my bowling. I might go back, take a few days off and get back.
Rohan Kunnummal is the Player of the Match for his astounding knock of 107 off 75 deliveries.
Saurabh Tiwary (East Zone captain): When Riyan was batting it felt like we would win. But it's alright, we've played really good cricket throughout the tournament. Be it the batting or the bowling we've performed really well. We had a lot of belief that we would play the final. If you see our team we had a lot of balance. We bat until 9 and have a lot of bowling options. Congratulations to the South Zone team for winning the final. We wanted to restrict to 280-300. But we've learnt a lot and will try to do better next time.
South Zone win by 45 runs with 23 balls to spare and win the D.B Deodhar Trophy, 2023!
The innings started off in a disappointing fashion for East Zone with the top three batters dismissed cheaply and then, skipper Saurabh Tiwary too left the stage after a 50-run partnership with Sudip Kumar Gharami. At that time, it looked as though maybe a Riyan Parag half-century would be on at best, and then, a quick finish.
But, the pair of Parag and Kumar Kushagra had other ideas! From 115/5 in 24.4 overs, they took the score to 220 in 37.5 overs. Riyan played some scintillating shots and was murderous towards anything straight and short. He was particularly severe against seam bowling. Those pull shots in front of square were something to behold!
However, he got out at exactly the wrong time when Washington Sundar trapped him in front on 95. It was heartbreaking alright for East Zone but Kumar Kushagra did not stop. He brought up a fantastic half-century and threatened to single-handedly take the game away from South Zone!
But calamity struck East Zone again as Kumar played a shot too many against Washington Sundar and was holed out at long-on.
Since then, there was an effort to try and still make a match out of it, but South Zone were just too good and too professional not to let the East Zone tail wag!
Along with Washington Sundar, Vidhwath Kaverappa, V Koushik, Vijaykumar Vyshak and Sai Kishore were among the wickets. Sai Kishore was economical and kept it tight from one end for ten straight overs. The seamers were well rotated by Mayank Agarwal and mixed things up nicely to bring about those wickets. The start that they gave South Zone was just spectacular.
Not to forget, some brilliant catches were taken amidst a couple of drop catches. Rohit Rayudu's catch to dismiss Utkarsh Singh, Arun Karthik's catch to send Tiwary back and Narayan Jagadeesan's left-hander stunner to end Manisankar Murasingh's innings were special and instrumental in this victory!
East Zone's fightback comes to an end! South Zone lift the Deodhar Trophy, having played some wonderful cricket right through the tournament! They now have both the Duleep and the Deodhar Trophy to their name in the same season.
46.1 Vidwath Kaverappa to Mukhtar Hussain, SKIED...AND TAKEN! SOUTH ZONE REIGN SUPREME! Full in length outside the off stump and Mukhtar leans forward to slice it aerially. Just doesn't get enough on it though as it balloons up before deep third man sprints forward and to his right to take it with a dive in the backward point region. South Zone are the champions of the Deodhar Trophy 2023!
Mukhtar Hussain c Washington Sundar b Vidwath Kaverappa 1 (2b, 0x4, 0x6)
The last pair for East Zone should not think too much now. All they have to do is go for it here. There is no point hanging around trying to pick up ones. It's all about hitting fours and sixes and getting closer to the target. But, it seems as though Akash Deep has told his partner to give him strike!
46
overs
283/9score
1
W
1
W
1
6
runs
Akash Deep*
7(2)
Mukhtar Hussain
1(1)
Vijaykumar Vyshak
2/59
45.6 Vijaykumar Vyshak to Akash Deep, SIX! That has been slapped over the bowler's head for a maximum. That was fractionally shorter a tad outside off, Akash Deep slams this down the ground, a flat batted shot which just about clears the long-on fielder. The third umpire will check but clearly the right foot is on the ropes.
45.5 Vijaykumar Vyshak to Mukhtar Hussain, that was a back of a length delivery a shade outside off, cut away by Mukhtar towards the short third man fielder and manages to rotate the strike.
Mukhtar Hussain, RHB, is at the crease.
45.4 Vijaykumar Vyshak to Shahbaz Ahmed, WICKET! Shahbaz Ahmed also leaves and it's all going South Zone's way. Fuller a shade outside off, Shahbaz tries to slam this down the ground, ends up slicing it up in the air which carries all the way to the long-off fielder.
Shahbaz Ahmed c Mayank Agarwal b Vijaykumar Vyshak 17 (21b, 0x4, 0x6)
45.3 Vijaykumar Vyshak to Akash Deep, short of a length delivery around off, spliced away towards the long-off region for a single.
Akash Deep, RHB, is at the crease.
45.2 Vijaykumar Vyshak to Mura Singh, WICKET! That's a superb catch from the keeper. On a good-length angling across the left-hander, Mura Singh swipes across the line, gets a thick outside edge which has been brilliantly held by the keeper. Times the jump to perfection and Mura Singh has to head back to the pavilion.
Manisankar Murasingh c Narayan Jagadeesan b Vijaykumar Vyshak 5 (7b, 0x4, 0x6)
45.1 Vijaykumar Vyshak to Shahbaz Ahmed, again a wide yorker and Shahbaz just manages to squeeze that away for a single towards short third man.
Vijaykumar Vyshak [7.0-0-50-0] comes back into the attack.
Riyan Parag will finish the tournament with 354 runs at a strike rate of 137.00! Needless to say, it is the highest.
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South Zone
Akash Deep
*
Vijaykumar Vyshak
Video
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Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground
