A second century in the Deodhar Trophy for Riyan Parag (102) and a superb five-wicket haul for Manisankar Murasingh fired East Zone to a massive 157–run victory over the West Zone here on Tuesday. After Parag’s blitzkrieg 102 not out of just 68 balls, studded with five sixes and six fours powered the East Zone to a huge 319/7 in their 50 overs, Murasingh ran riot in the West Zone ranks to help his side to a huge win. Chasing 320, the West Zone side was shot out for a mere 162 in 34 overs with the 30-year-old Tripura all-rounder Murasingh returning a stunning spell of 7-1-28-5. Utkarsh Singh also played an all-round role by scoring a half-century and taking three wickets. For the losing side, Saurashtra opener Harvik Desai waged a lone battle, scoring 92 (92 balls, 13x4s, 2x6s), but his effort went in vain as Murasingh broke the back of their chase.
The right-arm medium fast bowler Murasingh struck his first, crucial blow in the fifth over when he pinned Rahul Tripathi (1) in front of the wickets. Earlier, Akash Deep had removed Samarth Vyas (12) in the third over. Murasingh piled up further misery on Sarfaraz Khan who has been struggling for form and runs when he cleaned up the Mumbai batter for a mere nine-ball three in the seventh over. West Zone slipped further when No. 5 batter Kathan Patel was caught by Parag off Murasingh in the ninth over.
