West Zone were 181 for the loss of three wickets at close of play on the second day in the Duleep Trophy league match against South Zone being played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai, on Wednesday. The highlight of the day's play was an unbeaten century by a resurgent Hrishikesh Kanitkar. He is unbeaten on 102 (14 fours, 1 six) off 179 balls faced so far.

It was another hot and humid day in Chennai and South Zone first innings folded for 292, just before lunch. Resuming at the overnight score of 233/6, South Zone struggled against some purposeful West Zone bowling. Sridharan Sharath just could not get going, scratching around for 23 balls for a solitary run, before being caught by Sairaj Bahutule off Ajit Agarkar for 42.

In the very next over, left-arm seam bowler from Baroda - Irfan Pathan (jr) removed Syed Sahabudin (10). South Zone were reeling at 246/8 at that stage. Hemal Watekar (18), Venkatesh Prasad (16*) and MR Shrinivas (11) showed a lot of determination to take South Zone to a relatively respectable score of 292 all out. Agarkar (3/47) and Bahutule (3/53) were the pick of the West Zone bowlers.

West Zone got off to a shocking start, losing the left-handed opening batsman Connor Williams for a duck in the fifth over to Venkatesh Prasad. Kanitkar walked in to the middle and showed a lot of conviction to gather the runs. Niranjan Godbole, the other opening batsman, fell to the fast bowler from Tamil Nadu - Shrinivas, after making just 16 runs with the West Zone score on 34/2.

Shitanshu Kotak and Kanitkar went about repairing the floundering innings. The two batsmen added exactly 100 runs for the third wicket. Kanitkar was more adveturous of the two, strking the ball cleanly. Kotak made 36 off 106 balls, striking four boundaries before falling to Watekar in the 50th over off the innings.

Kaushik Aphale joined Kanitkar in the middle and ensured that they did not lose any further wickets. Kanitkar's confidence grew to such an extent that he stepped out to loft Hemang Badani for a huge six to move from 90 to 96. At close of play, Aphale is unbeaten on 15 giving Kanitkar good support.

© CricInfo