Duleep TrophyNorth Zone defeated West Zone in the quarter-final match of the 2026 Duleep Trophy, winning by 52 runs and securing a spot in the semi-finals. Left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq emerged as the hero of this commanding victory, single-handedly claiming 9 wickets and forcing West Zone to their knees.
Despite facing a West Zone lineup featuring renowned batters like Prithvi Shaw, Musheer Khan, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abid Mushtaq shone brightly and demonstrated his true capability.
West Zone Crumble Against Abid Mushtaq
In the match played in Bengaluru, North Zone set a target of 287 runs for West Zone. However, while chasing this target, West Zone's second innings folded for just 234 runs.
Abid Mushtaq played a pivotal role in stopping West Zone short of the target, claiming 4 wickets for 60 runs in 22 overs during the second innings.
Claimed 5 wickets in the first innings against West Zone
Earlier, in West Zone's first innings, Abid Mushtaq took 5 wickets for 39 runs in 25.4 overs. It was this five-wicket haul that restricted West Zone's first innings to just 187 runs.
West Zone was bowled out for 187, giving North Zone a 64-run lead in the first innings. North Zone had scored 251 runs in their first innings. Subsequently, they scored 222 runs in their second innings, setting a target of 287 for West Zone.
Who is Abid Mushtaq, the bowler who took 9 wickets for 99 runs?
Abid Mushtaq, the player who claimed 9 wickets for 99 runs in the quarter-final, hails from the Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir. He is a 29-year-old left-arm spinner who made his first-class debut in 2019.
Powered by Abid Mushtaq's performance, North Zone defeated West Zone to secure a spot in the semi-finals, where they will now face South Zone. This match is scheduled to begin on August 30.
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