Image: How Central Zone managed to score 432 points on the first day / © ESPNcricinfo
August 28, 2025, was a day for the record books at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground B in Bengaluru, where Central Zone’s batters ran riot against North East Zone on the opening day of their Duleep Trophy quarter-final. This four-day clash, set to run from August 28 to 31, saw Central Zone stamp their authority, finishing at a towering 432 for 2 in 77 overs. It was a day of batting, with Danish Malewar’s unbeaten 198, Rajat Patidar’s scintillating 125, and Aryan Juyal’s composed 60, leaving North East Zone’s bowlers shell-shocked.
Opting to bowl first, North East Zone found themselves outplayed on a pitch that offered nothing, as Central Zone’s batters put on a clinic. The match kicked off at 9:30 AM under bright Bengaluru skies. North East Zone’s captain, Rongsen Jonathan, called correctly at the toss and chose to bowl, hoping the early morning conditions would give his pacers an edge. Perhaps he envisioned swing or seam to trouble the batters, but the pitch was a batter’s dream. Central Zone’s lineup grabbed the chance with both hands, turning the day into a one-sided thrashing that left North East Zone regretting their decision.
Central Zone sent out openers Aayush Pandey and Aryan Juyal to face the new ball. North East Zone’s bowlers started with a spark, giving their supporters a fleeting moment of hope. In the third over, Akash Choudhary struck, getting Pandey to nick one to wicketkeeper Hem Chetri. Pandey, still settling in, managed just 3 runs off 10 balls, and at 4 for 1 in the 2.3rd over, North East Zone had something to cheer about. Choudhary’s early wicket, he ended with 1 for 73 in 17 overs, and was a bright spot, but it turned out to be their only joy for hours.
With Pandey back in the pavilion, Danish Malewar walked out to join Juyal, and the duo got to work steadying the ship. Juyal, known for his cool-headed approach as a wicketkeeper-batter, played with the kind of calm that anchors an innings. He scored 60 runs off 100 balls, stroking 8 fours at a strike rate of 60.00. His game plan was simple: see off the new ball, build a foundation, and keep the runs flowing. Malewar, at the other end, brought a mix of patience and quiet aggression, picking off boundaries when the bowlers strayed. Together, they frustrated North East Zone’s attack, which couldn’t find a consistent length on a pitch that gave them no help.
By the 36th over, Juyal and Malewar had pushed Central Zone to 143 for 1, a solid platform. Then, Juyal had to retire hurt, having faced 100 balls and laid a crucial foundation with his 60. His exit was a blow, but it brought Central Zone’s captain, Rajat Patidar, to the crease, and he turned the game on its head. Patidar walked out with intent, playing with a fire that shifted the momentum firmly in Central Zone’s favor.
Patidar’s innings was a thing of beauty, a 125-run masterclass off just 96 balls. He smashed 21 fours and 3 sixes, racing along at a strike rate of 130.20. Every shot was a statement with elegant drives through cover, fierce cuts past point, and lofted shots that cleared the infield with ease. He seemed to have an answer for every bowler, finding gaps at will and punishing anything short or wide. North East Zone’s fielders were left chasing shadows, and their bowlers had no reply. Malewar, meanwhile, held up his end, playing the anchor role while Patidar went on the rampage. Their second-wicket stand grew to a colossal 343 runs, dominating the day’s middle and late sessions.
Danish Malewar’s unbeaten 198 off 219 balls was the heartbeat of Central Zone’s innings. His knock, studded with 35 fours and a single six, came at a strike rate of 90.41. It was a marathon effort, full of grit and grace. Early on, Malewar focused on survival, seeing off the new ball and building a base. As he grew more comfortable, he opened up, driving and cutting with precision, especially through the offside. His concentration was unbreakable, and his ability to mix defense with attack kept the scoreboard moving. By stumps, he was just 2 runs shy of a double century, a milestone that had the crowd buzzing for Day 2.
Patidar’s onslaught ended in the 65th over when he was caught by Ankur Malik off Pheiroijam Jotin’s bowling. Jotin’s wicket, he finished with 1 for 56 in 14 overs, was a rare moment of relief for the North East Zone. At 347 for 2, Central Zone were still in complete control, and Yash Rathod’s arrival kept the pressure on. Rathod played second fiddle, settling in quickly and ending not out on 32 off 37 balls, with 4 fours at a strike rate of 86.48. He and Malewar added an unbroken 85 runs for the third wicket, ensuring Central Zone finished the day on top.
The total of 432 for 2 was padded by 14 extras, showing the North East Zone’s lack of discipline. Central Zone’s batting depth was daunting, with players like Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shubham Sharma, and Aditya Thakare still to bat, promising more runs on Day 2. A run rate of 5.61 underlined their aggressive approach, as they made the most of every opportunity.
North East Zone’s bowlers had a day to forget. Akash Choudhary, despite his early scalp, gave away 73 runs in 17 overs at an economy of 4.29, managing three maidens but unable to keep things tight. Pheiroijam Jotin, who dismissed Patidar, conceded 56 runs in 14 overs at 4.00. Palzor Tamang was the most economical, giving up 39 runs in 10 overs at 3.90, but he couldn’t find a wicket. Bishworjit Konthoujam struggled, leaking 76 runs in 15 overs at 5.06.
Captain Rongsen Jonathan had a torrid time, giving away 130 runs in 15 overs at an economy of 8.66. Ankur Malik and Hem Chetri were also expensive, conceding 20 runs in 2.4 overs (economy 7.50) and 26 runs in 3.2 overs (economy 7.80), respectively. The bowlers’ wayward lines and the flat pitch made their job brutal, and they looked beaten by stumps. The day was a batter’s paradise and a bowler’s nightmare. North East Zone’s decision to bowl first backfired as the pitch offered nothing, and Central Zone’s batters made them pay.
Malewar’s epic knock, Patidar’s blazing century, and Juyal’s early solidity set the tone, while North East Zone’s bowlers and fielders wilted under the pressure. With Central Zone’s batting depth and a massive total already on the board, North East Zone faced a steep challenge on Day 2 to fight back.
Rajat Patidar, fresh off an injury layoff, lit up the ground with a breathtaking 125 off 96 balls. The Central Zone captain’s knock was pure class, packed with 21 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 130.20. His aggressive batting powered Central Zone to 432 for 2 in 77 overs, with a run rate of 5.61.
Alongside Danish Malewar’s unbeaten 198, Patidar built a massive 343-run stand before falling to Pheiroijam Jotin, caught by Ankur Malik. His mix of timing and power overwhelmed the North East Zone’s bowlers, with Akash Choudhary (1/73) and Jotin (1/56) unable to stop the onslaught. With Yash Rathod (32*) and Malewar still at the crease, and big names like Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Chahar waiting, Patidar’s fiery return set the stage for a cracking contest.
Danish Malewar was the star of the show, unbeaten on 198 off 219 balls. His innings, with 35 fours and a six, came at a strike rate of 90.41, anchoring Central Zone’s towering 432 for 2 in 77 overs at a run rate of 5.61.
After Aayush Pandey’s early dismissal, Malewar steadied the innings, forging a 343-run partnership with Rajat Patidar’s brisk 125. With composure and flair, he took on North East Zone’s attack, where only Akash Choudhary and Pheiroijam Jotin found wickets, keeping Central Zone in total control.