Duleep Trophy 2023 Final, Day 1 Review: South Zone struggle for partnerships on rain-hit day

The 2023 Duleep Trophy final between South Zone and West Zone got underway at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After losing the toss and batting first, the Hanuma Vihari-led side got off to the worst possible start on a rain-hit opening day.

Mayank Agarwal failed to carry forward his form from the semifinal as he was sent back to the pavilion for 28 by Atit Sheth as he chased a wide delivery and edged it to Sarfaraz Khan in the slips after his opening partner Ravikumar Samarth was dismissed for just seven by Chintan Gaja. Despite his low score, Agarwal reached a career milestone of 7000 runs in first-class cricket during his adventurous stay at the crease.

Furthermore, young batter Tilak Varma proved his worth as he formed a vital partnership with skipper Hanuma Vihari before falling for 40 against Arzan Nagwaswalla. However, the skipper led his team from the front, scoring 63 runs off 130. 

Hanuma Vihari's defiance goes in vain

With the tea break approaching, Vihari chopped one on from Shams Mulani shortly after Sachin Baby (7) was caught by Suryakumar Yadav at short mid-wicket off the same bowler. Apart from skipper Vihari, none of the other South Zone batters impressed with the bat. 

The Tamil Nadu pair of Washington Sundar and R Sai Kishore sought to assist their team, however, Kishore was roughed up by Nagaswalla's short delivery after two rain breaks, as he was caught by Sarfaraz at gully.  The Gujarat duo of Chintan Gaja and Nagwaswalla were key for the Priyank Pranchal-led side. Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani, the side's second-highest wicket-taker in the previous Ranji Trophy season, also took two wickets for West Zone.

South Zone would want their tail to wag for as long as possible to add some crucial runs in their tally. Sundar (9*) and Vyshak Vijay Kumar (5*) were at stumps with South Zone in trouble at 182/7.