Central Zone in seventh heaven

CENTRAL Zone survived some nervous moments to beat South Zone by six wickets and clinch the Duleep Trophy after a hiatus of 11 years here on Monday. Pursuing a target of 65, Central Zone's top-order batters were put to the test by South bowlers on a crumbling fifth day track at the BCCI COE grounds here, but they did not have too many runs to defend.

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Akshay Wadkar (19 n.0) and first-innings centurion Yash Rathod (13 n.0) were at crease when Central eventually went past the target in 20.3 overs to annex their seventh Duleep Trophy title.

However, South can take heart from the fight they showed in the second innings (426) and with the ball in the final innings, putting ice on the champagne for Central.