In arrears by 309 runs on the first innings, South Zone were fighting hard to avert an innings defeat at stumps on the third day of their Duleep Trophy league match against Central Zone at the Bhausaheb Bandokar Stadium in Goa on Saturday. Led by a strokefilled unbeaten 102 by Tamil Nadu left hander Sridharan Sriram, South Zone at close of play were 204 for four. Earlier, Amay Khurasiya declared the Central Zone innings closed at 550 for seven after Gagan Khoda got his triple century.

Resuming at 469 for three, Central Zone lost Yere Goud for 85. D Bundela was run out off the first ball he faced and Venkatpathi Raju then took the wickets of RJ Kanwat and wicketkeeper RB Jhalani. In the meantime however Khoda had got to the coveted 300. At the declaration, Khoda had batted 610 minutes, faced 467 balls and hit 33 fours and six sixes. It was the second highest score in the competition, next only to Raman Lamba's 320 in 1987-88.

South Zone made a poor start in their second innings losing Nandakishore and stand in skipper Laxman with only 28 runs on the board. But Sriram and Vijay Bhardwaj figured in a rescue act by adding 128 runs for the third wicket off 42.3 overs. Following his fighting half century in the first innings, Bhardwaj again battled it out for 172 minutes for 40 before he was bowled by Kanwat. He faced 124 balls but hit only three of them to the ropes. Wicketkeeper VST Naidu did not last long but Sriram and Sunil Joshi (18) came through unbeaten at stumps. Sriram has so far faced 220 balls and hit 13 fours.

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