North Zone and Central Zone are both on the verge of advancing to the Duleep Trophy semifinals after completely dominating the third day of their respective quarterfinal matches. Central Zone secured an insurmountable 678-run lead against North East Zone, while North Zone's massive lead over East Zone stands at 563 runs, thanks to brilliant centuries from Ankit Kumar and Yash Dhull.
In the quarterfinal between North Zone and East Zone, skipper Ankit Kumar and former Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull put on a clinic. The pair crafted a formidable 240-run partnership for the second wicket, effectively taking the game away from their opponents. Dhull was the aggressor, racing to a hundred off just 112 balls, showcasing exceptional off-side play. He was aided by a slice of luck when he was dropped on 48, an opportunity he fully capitalized on. Ankit, meanwhile, played a more measured innings, reaching his century in 155 balls.
The East Zone bowlers struggled to make an impact throughout the day. Senior pacer Mohammed Shami provided occasional challenges, but the absence of injured pacer Mukesh Kumar was keenly felt. Dhull's innings finally ended on 133 after he was trapped lbw by East skipper Riyan Parag. However, Ankit continued to accelerate, ending the day on a commanding 168 not out as North Zone finished on 388 for two, holding a commanding 563-run lead with two full days remaining.
Meanwhile, Central Zone secured a decisive first-innings lead of 347 runs against North East Zone. Their dominance was extended even further on Day 3, with Shubham Sharma scoring a patient hundred, and skipper Rajat Patidar and Yash Rathod adding quick-fire half-centuries. Shubham's 122 provided the backbone, while Patidar's aggressive 66 and Rathod's rapid 78 piled on the pressure, swelling the lead to an unimaginable 678 runs by the end of play.
With such commanding leads, both North Zone and Central Zone have made the final day a mere formality. The matches have highlighted the immense depth of talent in both squads, with strong performances from both batters and bowlers, including India's Deepak Chahar and Khaleel Ahmed, who polished off the tail of the North East Zone. For players like Kuldeep Yadav, who went wicketless in the first innings, the final day presents an opportunity to gain valuable match practice and wickets before the upcoming Asia Cup.
