Duleep Trophy final: North Zone reduce South to 33/2 on a curtailed Day 2

Kochi: Only 10 overs of play was possible on the second day of the Duleep Trophy final as North Zone enjoyed the upperhand reducing South Zone to 33 for two in the brief session post tea.

South Zone opted to bat while North received a setback when India discard Gautam Gambhir had to fly back to Delhi owing to viral fever. However another out-of-favour veteran Virender Sehwag is there in the XI which is led by Harbhajan Singh. North pacers Mohit Sharma and Siddharth Kaul removed openers Lokesh Rahul (9) and Abhinav Mukund (7) respectively. While Rahul was dismissed when he mistimed a pull-shot off a rising delivery from Haryana pacer Mohit, Mukund was cleaned up by Kaul with a delivery that cut back sharply uprooting the middle-stump. Wicketkeeper CM Gautham (8 batting) was at the crease with the in-form Baba Aparajith (0 batting). It was the poor drainage system at the Nehru stadium here that has cost nearly two days of play. Despite bright sunshine since yesterday afternoon, the two umpires Suresh Shastri and Sanjay Hazare found it difficult to start the proceedings due to heavy outfield which was not conducive for competitive cricket. Brief Scores: South Zone 33/2 (Lokesh Rahul 9, Mohit Sharma 1/11, Siddharth Kaul 1/13) vs North Zone.