Resuming the day at 220/7, West Zone faced a daunting task, needing 67 runs to reach their target of 287. With Urvil Patel at the crease on 25 and Tanush Kotian yet to open his account, the batting side struggled to navigate the challenging conditions. The North Zone spin duo proved too difficult to handle, ultimately bowling out their opponents for 234 in 57.3 overs.
Spinners Seal Victory as West Zone Collapse
Abid Mushtaq was the standout performer, adding to his impressive match tally by dismissing Kotian early in the morning session. He followed this by removing Tushar Deshpande for five, with Abdul Samad taking the catch. Although Mushtaq narrowly missed out on a second five-wicket haul in the match, his contribution was pivotal, finishing with match figures of 9/99 to earn the Player of the Match award.
The final blow was delivered by Nishant Sindhu, who trapped Urvil Patel lbw to end the innings. The result marked a dramatic conclusion to a match that had shifted decisively on the third day. At one stage, West Zone appeared to be in a commanding position at 195/3, bolstered by a 111-run partnership between captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 66, and Musheer Khan, who contributed 96.
Turning Point and Semi-Final Outlook
The momentum swung violently in North Zone’s favour when Gaikwad was run out, triggering a collapse that saw four wickets fall for just 25 runs in under seven overs. With the pitch offering low bounce, the remaining batters found it increasingly difficult to survive the final day's play.
The match also drew attention for team selection, as coaches Ajay Sharma and Sarandeep Singh opted to include Yash Dhull over Sanat Sangwan. Sangwan had been the third-highest run-scorer in the previous Ranji Trophy season with 828 runs, while Dhull, who was selected, recorded scores of nine and zero across the two innings. Following this victory, North Zone is set to face South Zone in the semi-finals, while East Zone will compete against Central Zone. Both matches are scheduled to commence at the COE on August 30.
