Jammu and Kashmir left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq produced a dream spell in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He picked up 5 for 39 as North Zone bowled West Zone out for 187 and secured a 64-run first-innings lead. The 29-year-old who has taken over 130 first-class wickets at an average around 22, attacked the stumps relentlessly on a red-soil surface and got the ball turning. Late on the opening day he dismissed Prithvi Shaw with a classic delivery that drifted in, pitched in the middle and spun sharply past the bat to clip off stump. Shaw was dismissed for 22 off 21 balls.

On the second morning Mushtaq returned with the new ball and ran through the middle order. Shivalik Sharma was trapped lbw for 22 after the spinner went around the wicket and straightened one. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad stepped out, only for the ball to dip and hold its line as he offered the pad and was given out for 5. Two balls later Urvil Patel was also pinned lbw for a duck. He completed his five-wicket haul by removing Tushar Deshpande just before tea. Mushtaq finished with figures of 5 for 39. This was his tenth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

West Zone Need 67 Runs to Win With Three Wickets Left on the Final Day

North Zone and West Zone’s Duleep Trophy quarter-final has been very competitive across three days in Bengaluru. North Zone scored 251 in the first innings after recovering from early blows through contributions from Ayush Badoni and a late cameo by Anshul Kamboj. West Zone struggled in their reply as Abid Mushtaq’s five-wicket spell meant that they were all out for 187 and conceded a 64-run lead. The left arm spinner finished with figures of 5 for 39 and stole the show. North Zone began their second innings cautiously. Once again they lost early wickets but Ayush Badoni again provided the anchor role to take them out of trouble.

They were bowled out for 222 with Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian taking four wickets each. That left the West Zone a target of 287. In the chase Musheer Khan played a great knock of 96 while captain Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 66 before a run-out sent him back. West Zone reached 220 for 7 at the end of Day 3 and still needed 67 runs with three wickets remaining. Abid Mushtaq picked up two wickets and the game is poised well for a dramatic finish on the final day tomorrow with both teams in with a chance.