Duleep Trophy: Shami's Spell Leaves South Zone Stumbling

Mohammad Shami's crucial wickets left South Zone struggling at 242/6, trailing by 466 runs in the Duleep Trophy final. Can they avoid follow-on? Read more.

South Zone's pursuit of a comeback in the Duleep Trophy final faced significant challenges on Day 3, primarily due to the efforts of veteran pacer Mohammad Shami. Shami's disciplined bowling yielded two vital wickets, leaving South Zone struggling at 242 for six by the close of play.

Despite the efforts of captain Tilak Varma, who remained unbeaten on 56, South Zone faced a substantial 466-run deficit after East Zone posted a commanding first-innings total of 708. With only four wickets remaining, South Zone has an immense challenge ahead to avoid the follow-on.

Shami's effectiveness stemmed from his accurate stump-to-stump line, making it difficult for South Zone batters to score freely. Key dismissals included Shaik Rasheed and Ravichandran Smaran, disrupting potentially building partnerships. Devdutt Padikkal also departed after reaching his half-century, caught in the deep off Mukesh Kumar's bowling.

In the latter part of the day, Tilak Varma, along with CV Milind, provided some resistance, adding runs to reduce the deficit. However, with the significant lead held by East Zone, the match remains firmly in their control heading into the fourth day.

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