Deodhar Trophy 2023: Sai Sudharsan and Mayank Agarwal's exceptional performances ensure South Zone's triumph over East Zone

In a thrilling Deodhar Trophy encounter, South Zone showcased their dominance by securing a convincing five-wicket victory against East Zone. Mayank Agarwal and Sai Sudharsan emerged as the heroes, delivering exceptional half-centuries that played a pivotal role in South Zone's triumphant chase of 230 runs in 44.2 overs.

The pair's remarkable 118-run partnership for the second wicket, embellished with ten boundaries and two maximums, set the foundation for a successful pursuit.

Agarwal's majestic innings of 84 runs comprised six boundaries and a towering six, showcasing his prowess with the willow. On the other hand, Sudharsan displayed his mettle with a blistering 53 off just 57 balls, striking the ball to the boundary four times and clearing the ropes once.

Even after the departure of the dynamic duo, the likes of N Jagadeesan (32) and Rohit Rayudu (24) ensured that the momentum was never lost, ensuring South Zone's march towards victory remained steady.

South Zone remained table toppers with sublime run in Deodhar Trophy

Prior to this match, South Zone had been in commanding form, registering four consecutive wins and standing tall at the summit of the points table. Meanwhile, East Zone had also put up a commendable performance, securing three victories out of four matches and holding the second position in the standings.

The triumph was an outcome of a collective bowling effort by South Zone, with the seam trio of V Koushik (3/37), Vidhwath Kaverappa (2/40), and Vijaykumar Vyshak (1/62) sharing six crucial wickets. The spin duo of Sai Kishore (3/45) and Washington Sundar (1/41) complemented the pacers with four more scalps, further stifling the opposition's batting lineup.

Opting to bat first, East Zone received a promising start from Virat Singh (49) and Subhranshu Senapati (44), but eventually faced a batting collapse as they lost wickets at regular intervals. However, Akash Deep (44) and Mukhtar Hussain (33) showed resilience and guided their team to a respectable total. The clash between South Zone and East Zone lived up to its billing, with both teams displaying their mettle.