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Shubham Khajuria was unbeaten on 128 when the play ended on the third day with North Zone still trailing South Zone by 258 runs.
Shubham Khajuria (left) and Nishant Sindhu take a run during Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinal. (PTI Photo)
Jammu and Kashmir’s Shubham Khajuria scored a determined, unbeaten century to rescue North Zone, although South Zone remains favourites to advance to the Duleep Trophy final on Saturday.
In response to South Zone’s formidable first-innings total of 536, North Zone finished the third day of the semifinal at 278/5, trailing by 258 runs.
The responsibility of avoiding a first-innings deficit now heavily lies with Khajuria, who carried his bat for an impressive 128 not out from 245 balls (20×4, 1×6).
North Zone’s innings started poorly with captain Ankit Kumar trapped leg-before by Gurjapneet Singh in the sixth over, followed by the promising Yash Dhull (14) falling cheaply, leaving the team struggling at 38/2 within the first half-hour.
Ayush Badoni (40) provided some resistance, partnering with Khajuria for 63 runs, but was dismissed by MD Nidheesh, reducing North to 101/3.
Khajuria then received strong support from Haryana’s spin bowling all-rounder Nishant Sindhu (82), as they crafted the day’s most crucial partnership of 171 runs for the fourth wicket.
The duo dominated the second session, denying South Zone a breakthrough as Khajuria reached his half-century off 107 balls, while Sindhu played fluently at the other end.
Rain briefly interrupted play with Khajuria on 97 and Sindhu on 71, but after resumption, the Jammu & Kashmir opener reached his eighth first-class hundred off 204 balls.
Sindhu, who had previously taken five wickets with his left-arm spin in South Zone’s innings, was eventually dismissed for 82 (148 balls) as Gurjapneet claimed his third wicket.
South Zone struck again late in the day, running out wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan for a duck.
However, Khajuria remained resolute, ending the day unbeaten, giving North Zone a faint hope despite the significant deficit of 258 runs heading into the final day.
Brief Scores
North Zone 1st Innings: 278/5 in 79 overs (Shubham Khajuria 128 not out, Nishant Sindhu 82, Ayush Badoni 40; Gurjapneet Singh 3/67, MD Nidheesh 1/58) vs South Zone 1st Innings: 536
With PTI Inputs
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
September 06, 2025, 20:52 IST
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