Duleep Trophy, 2007-08

[msb1991]

Actually' date=' VRV has been quite prolific at the domestic level.[/quote'] It would seem that he has excelled as a spearhead but he is a tad too expensive to act as a first change bowler for the Test team. This is why he has done poorly in Test cricket imo.

[Chandan]

West is back in the match big time grabbig 4 cheap wickets today morning and North is tottering at 102/4 with the whole top order and the backbone Manhas back in the hut. Wow!! I never saw this coming!! And Trivedi has grabbed all the 4 wickets.

[Sachinism]

last wicket partnership for north zone doing some damage now VRV is scoring runs, he is gonna be banging on BCCI's door pretty soon

[Chandan]

North Zone v West Zone, Mumbai, Duleep Trophy, 2007-08 FINAL, DAY TWO Trivedi's six can't prevent North lead Cricinfo staff February 20, 2008 West Zone 274 and 2 for 0 trail North Zone 340 (Bhatia 84, Yashpal Singh 59, Trivedi 6-67) by 64 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Siddharth Trivedi took six wickets to keep West in the game © Cricinfo Ltd. On a roller coaster day at the Wankhede Stadium, where fortunes kept swinging from one side to the other, North Zone managed to grab a slight advantage with a 66-run lead. Siddharth Trivedi left North reeling at 97 for 4 with an incisive spell of seam bowling before Rajat Bhatia and Yashpal Singh added 128 for the fifth wicket to steer them out of trouble. Another mini-collapse left North on par with West before VRV Singh and Ashok Thakur charged them to a valuable lead. The drama started with the first ball of the day. Trivedi had Aakash Chopra edging to third slip before he prised out Karan Goel for a duck in the same over. In a blink, North were limping at 53 for 2. Cue Shikhar Dhawan and Mithun Manhas, to try and start the repair job. Trivedi continued to move the ball both ways while the other bowlers maintained the pressure with a disciplined bowling performance and eventually, the pressure started to tell. Dhawan fell trying to cut Trivedi and Manhas, trying to be aggressive, nicked a loose drive behind and North were struggling at 97 for 4. In walked Bhatia, who had scored a century in the Ranji Trophy final to save Delhi from a precarious position, and he proceeded to repeat the rescue act here. The pair of Bhatia and Yashpal started off in an uncertain manner, playing and missing quite a lot. Sandeep Jobanputra was the unlucky bowler as he went past the outside edge, especially Yashpal's, on many occasions. Slowly, as the sun came out and the wicket lost its sting, they prospered. Bhatia was strong on his legs, whipping anything full through midwicket while Yashpal started to connect with his drives. The second session belonged to North as the pair pulled away before Parthiv Patel, West's captain, got into the act. With seven men on the leg side, he told Rakesh Dhruv to bowl from over the wickets to an outside-leg-stump line, tempting the batsmen to go inside-out to the offside. After resisting initially and padding away those deliveries, the pair started to go for the shots and it led to Yashpal's dismissal. He went down the track and heaved straight to mid-off. Dhruv went on to induce a nick off Uday Kaul. The new ball got rid of Amit Mishra, Bhatia, top-edging a hook, and Vikramjeet Malik in quick succession leaving North at 274 for 9. With the scores level, VRV swung his bat merrily while Thakur played conservatively to push the scores along. The field spread out and VRV wisely started to pick singles and the lead crept past 60 before he was stumped off Dhruv. Wasim Jaffer and Sahil Kukreja saw out two patient overs to finish the day with West 2 for 0.

[Chandan]

North is on a roll. They took 5 wickets in the first session and the lead is only 81 runs. But Yusuf Pathan is at the crease and he can churn out quick runs. Apart from that North seems in command of the match completely. And we'll certainly have a result here. Wicket-takers for North are Singh and Malik two each while Thakur claimed one. Big money in IPL, but what about Duleep Trophy? Author: Sudheendra Tripathi Date: 21 Feb 2008 WHILE crores of rupees were thrown around at a plush city hotel all of yesterday in a star-studded auction for what is going to be the world’s richest cricket league, a major national first-class cricket tournament proceeded with barely any seats occupied at the Wankhede stadium and with not a single sponsor. “It’s a very big tournament,” West Zone coach Praveen Amre said after his team West Zone conceded a 66-run lead to North on the second day of the five-day Duleep Trophy final. The former India middle-order batsman was amazed how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were unable to get a corporate house to sponsor the country’s most prestigious cricket event. Unbelievable “The cream of the national talent is on display. I really can’t come to terms with the fact that this tournament doesn’t have a sponsor,” Amre said. “Even the Ranji Trophy,” Amre added, “has no sponsor. The associations of the participating teams manage a sponsor on their own,” he said citing the example of Mumbai’s Ranji team, which had the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) as its sponsor. BCCI officials were perhaps too tied up with the auction. Most of them had their cell phones either switched off, or constantly busy. M P Pandove, Jt Secretary BCCI and member of its marketing committee felt that TV coverage was more than enough. “We telecast all matches live on TV,” was all he had to say before disconnecting abruptly when MiD DAY finally got through to him yesterday. -------------------------------------------- It is really sad to see public interest in the most competitive domestic tournament of the country but even more sickening is the lack of interest and responsibility shown by BCCI. And we claim that we love cricket in India?

[King Tendulkar]

Live on sky sports now. North 2-0 chasing 166 to win.

[Sachinism]

VRV picks up another five-for

[fineleg]

And we claim that we love cricket in India?

For BCCI, cricket == $$$ and more $$$ End of matter.

[Gambit]

10fer for VRV. NZ are 56/3 chasing 166.

[Chandan]

For BCCI, cricket == $$$ and more $$$ End of matter.

We means the fans here, not the board! How many forummers are taking interest in Duleep trophy? Not even 10% I suppose. That says a lot about us isn't it? If you look at the Australian fans or the English fans, all of them fiercely support their states and counties and follow it with as much interest as they do with international cricket. The fans determine which form of game is popular, not the board! Anyway, the match is at extemely interesting stage here with North needing 98 to win the Duleep trophy this year. And Dhawan was dropped just a few deliveries earlier. I think that'll be a costly miss by West.

[The Outsider]

Should I start reconsidering my verdict on VRV Singh is the big question?

[Chandan]

Should I start reconsidering my verdict on VRV Singh is the big question?

I'll say no. Because he is still erratic and within some hot deliveries, even these domestic batsmen are smashing him. I just can't see how such an erratic bowler would succeed at international level, even if he bowls few deliveries which are awkward to deal.

[Chandan]

North Zone v West Zone, Duleep Trophy 2007-08 FINAL, DAY THREE North need 92 more to clinch trophy The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga at the Wankhede Stadium February 21, 2008 North Zone 340 and 74 for 3 (Dhawan 44*, Trivedi 2-29) require 92 more runs to beat West Zone 274 and 231 (Pathan 61, VRV Singh 5-86) Scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out VRV Singh's second five-for of the match put North Zone in a commanding position on day three © Cricinfo Ltd VRV Singh got his second five-for of the match as West Zone batsmen played one injudicious shot after the other, and despite a middle-order resistance they were bowled out in two sessions to set North Zone an easy 166 to get, with two days and a session to go. North Zone ended the third day with 92 more to get and seven wickets in hand. The first over of the day set the tone, when Sahil Kukreja played a loose drive to the first delivery that was not pitched on legs, and edged it through to Uday Kaul, the wicketkeeper. North did not look to capitalise on the early breakthrough as VRV continued to spray the ball around, and Vikramjeet Malik - although getting the inswing going - had problems with no-balls. Wasim Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane got a partnership going, and scored at a fairly good pace. But after overs of innocuous bowling, Ashok Thakur got one to land on a length and dip in towards Jaffer, who looked to play without any feet movement, and presented a gap between bat and pad. Parthiv Patel soon got his second awkward lifter of the match, which he jabbed to first slip. Cheteshwar Pujara completed his pair by going for an expansive drive to an inswinger, leaving his stumps vulnerable. In 5.4 overs, 56 for 1 became 70 for 4, with a lead of just fours runs. A brief partnership between Rahane, who was impressive once again in his innings of 43, and Yusuf Pathan was ended by a harsh call from AV Jayaprakash. Rahane was hit on the thigh pad by one from VRV that cut in but was going over the top of the stumps. With half the side out for a lead of just 42, two Baroda players - Rakesh Solanki and Pathan - counterattacked, exposing the North bowlers. Pathan, who had already got off to a quick start by the time Rahane got out (21 off 17 balls), took the attack to the next level and turned the attention away from Solanki. Soon the field spread out, Amit Mishra was brought on, and defensive bowling became the call of the hour. Pathan still managed to find gaps, whipping through mid-on, thrashing through covers, edging over slips, late-cutting through third man, sweeping through square leg, and lofting over the infield. Mishra, who had been swept for two fours by Pathan, finally got the breakthrough: bowling from round the stumps, he tossed one up, and Pathan backed his sweep, only to top-edge to short fine leg. Pathan ended up scoring 61 out of the 97 runs scored by West since his arrival at the crease. His 59-run partnership with Solanki in 10.4 overs made sure the game would not end on the third day itself. The North bowlers became lackadaisical once again and Solanki and Rakesh Dhurv took advantage. For more than 19 overs, they could only create one half-chance - a caught-and-bowled for Mishra - and a regulation chance for Kaul in Rajat Bhatia's first over, which he duly dropped. Dhurv had scored 31 by then, but North got a breakthrough when Solanki uppercut VRV straight to third man. The tail folded easily, the last four wickets falling for nine runs. Three cheap dismissals gave VRV his second first-class ten-wicket haul. He now has 18 wickets from two Duleep Trophy matches. Chasing 166, North got off to a solid start just like in the first innings, and it seemed they would come close to rattling off the required runs today itself. But as had happened in the first innings, the fall of Aakash Chopra led to more wickets. Chopra got a dodgy lbw verdict, and Karan Goel followed after, ending what has been a horrible match for him, with a poke to an away-going delivery, just like he had in the first innings. He managed to get a run this time, though. When Mithun Manhas edged Trivedi to second slip, North had lost three wickets for 12 runs, and at that moment West Zone had a chance to sneak back. Shikhar Dhawan, meanwhile, had got off to a brisk start, having scored 25 off 27 balls out of the team score of 40. With his captain back in the pavilion, Dhawan adjusted to the situation, taking on the responsibility even as Yashpal Singh looked extremely edgy. Dhawan cut down on his shots without slowing down much, but there was a clear change in his attitude, suggesting he wanted to be there till the end. His scoring before the collapse had been attractive and imperious, but following it, he became more solid. He was also offered a reprieve when Sandeep Jobanputra, who bowled a testing spell of inswing bowling, dropped Dhawan off his own bowling: Dhawan was 27 then, and North had only got to 47. By the end of the day, Dhawan had added 17 more, ensured there were no more setbacks, and North were about one session of sensible batting short of a second successive Duleep Trophy triumph. --------------------------------- Looks like North is about to grab the trophy. But first session has been crucial on every day and lots of wickets has been lost in that session. If North can be careful here, they may win the trophy without much hiccup.

[apocalypse]

VRV takes 5 again? how bad can you bat West?

[Cricketics]

abey apoco. u r underestimating Vikram Singh.. he didn't peform well in int'l level is a different thing.. he is not that bad a bowler..one of the better bowlerz in India

[msb1991]

He was only timing in the 120s though, which is below what 99% of inexperienced international pacers in the past have succeeded at.

[Sachinism]

VRV has been consistantly taking wickets lately, but i feel as soon as he makes the indian side, he'll get smashed about and it will be considered a mistake to have brought him into the side

[Cricketics]

and Shikhar Dhawanz 94 helpz North Zone register Duleep Trophy win

[ranj]

Oh Christ, my faith in domestic cricket took a huge nose dive the moment I saw that VRV picked up 10. Now all I need is Sanjay Bangar to score a run a ball ton to confirm that the apocalypse is upon us.

[Chandan]

North Zone v West Zone, Duleep Trophy 2007-08 FINAL, DAY FOUR Mumbai Dhawan guides North to title The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga at the Wankhede Stadium February 22, 2008 North Zone 340 (Bhatia 84, Yashpal 59, Trivedi 6-67) and 166 for 4 (Dhawan 94*, Bhatia 33*, Trivedi 2-42) beat West Zone 274 (Rahane 91, VRV Singh 5-91, Mishra 3-57) and 231 (Pathan 61, VRV Singh 5-86) by six wickets Scorecard and ball-by-ball details How they were out Shikhar Dhawan's unbeaten 94 took North Zone to their second successive Duleep Trophy title © Cricinfo Ltd After having done all the hard work over the last three days, North Zone's batsmen ensured there would be no hiccups on the fourth morning, knocking off the 92 runs for the loss of just one wicket to lift their second Duleep Trophy in successive years, and their 47th in all. The first session at this ground has often been a tricky one for batsmen, but Shikhar Dhawan ensured North sailed through, applying himself superbly with an unbeaten 94 out of the target of 166 to seal the six-wicket win a minute before lunch. Dhawan curbed his natural strokeplay in favour of solid batting, but still played some attractive shots to ensure that despite a strokeless innings from Yashpal Singh, who played 39 deliveries today without adding to his overnight score, the bowlers did not dictate play. It seemed the two were batting on two different pitches: Yashpal plonking a huge stride foot down the wicket and barely managing to survive while Dhawan was absolutely certain with his judgment outside off and did not succumb to the temptation of playing away from his body. The day started serenely and the first boundary came in the sixth over when Dhawan square drove Sandeep Jobanputra to bring up his half-century. The field immediately fell back for Dhawan and he started picking off the singles and twos. After Yashpal fell attempting his first attacking shot of the day - a lame drive straight to point - Rajat Bhatia came in and hastened the end of the game. The bowlers failed to make much of an impression, apart from the periods when Yashpal was batting. The only point of contention towards the end was whether Dhawan would get his hundred. With 22 runs required and his score on 84, Dhawan pulled Ashraf Makda for a six and then managed three to retain the strike for the next over. After he took a single, Dhawan saw Rakesh Dhurv give away two leg-side boundaries, one to Bhatia and the other going for five wides. When Bhatia required six to reach 100, and North needed one to win, Makda bowled a no-ball to finish the match. The win also meant two major successes in the same season for five players from Delhi - Aakash Chopra, Mithun Manhas, Dhawan, Bhatia (who rescued North in the first innings), and Chetanya Nanda had been part of the Ranji Trophy-winning squad as well. This was also a match to remember for VRV Singh, who took five wickets in each innings, taking his tally to 18 in two Duleep Trophy matches. ----------------------------------- Dhawan--is he finally understanding his worth? Will he utilise his immense talent fully from on? Or was it just a flash in the pan for the mercurial cricketer?