Bangar puts Central in impregnable position

Central Zone 351 and 212 for 6 (Bangar 91*, Aftab Ahmed 5-28) lead Bangladesh Cricket Board XI 146 by 417
Scorecard

Central Zone batted Bangladesh Cricket Board XI out of the contest on the third day of the Duleep Trophy match in Delhi. Having gained a mammoth 205-run lead in the first innings, Central assumed complete control thanks to Sanjay Bangar's gritty unbeaten 91. Bangar was well supported in a 76-run stand by Devendra Bundela, who composed 53, and they took Central to 212 for 6 at the end of the day, with a near-unreachable lead of 417. The events, though, were only of academic interest as Central had already qualified for the final by virtue of gaining the first-innings lead.

Aftab Ahmed, the medium pacer, was the most effective bowler for the BCB XI with his 5 for 28 being the only consolation for the battered bowling line-up. Aftab also triggered a mini-collapse and snapped up four wickets in the space of six runs and gave Bangladesh a small opening. But the joy was shortlived as Bangar and Nikhil Doru ground out an 86-run partnership and stabilised the innings.

Resuming the day on 117 for 6, the BCB XI offered little resistance and were bundled out for 146. Manjural Islam Rana top-scored with 47 while Shalabh Srivastava was the pick of the Central Zone bowlers and ended with 4 for 33.