Parthiv Patel pleased with form ahead of IPL

The West Zone skipper hits half-century in Deodhar Trophy final to win the title

Parthiv Patel couldn’t have asked for a better start to his 28th birthday. The India wicketkeeper may not have got a chance to celebrate the special day on March 9, but the West Zone skipper will finally get into the party mood after successfully retaining the Deodhar Trophy in Guwahati yesterday. Put into bat, North Zone made a commendable 289 for eight in 50 overs courtesy Unmukt Chand’s scratchy 88 and Yuvraj Singh’s 67.

West Zone captain Parthiv Patel

In reply, Ambati Rayudu anchored the chase with a well-made unbeaten 78 as West successfully reached the target in 48.2 overs with five wickets in hand.

“It was a good win. The team played exceedingly well in the previous rounds as well. It was a good team effort in the final. Everyone contributed in winning the match,” Parthiv told MiD DAY.

It was Patel, who started the chase, hitting a 52-ball-58 while Kedar Jadhav also played a crucial knock of 57 off 43 deliveries. Patel then teamed up with his Gujarat teammate Manprit Juneja (56) to add 84 runs for the second wicket after losing opener Vijay Zol early.

Patel said the good performance here was a good confidence booster before the Indian Premier League’s sixth edition. “It is good to keep performing.

Fortunately, I have had a good (domestic) season so far. It definitely helps your confidence going into the IPL,” he said.

Brief scores
North Zone 289-8 (U Chand 88, Y Singh 67; J Unadkat 2-73) off 50 overs lost to West Zone 293-5 (P Patel 58, M Juneja 56, A Rayudu 78, K Jadhav 57;
A N Mishra 2-63) off 48.2 overs by five wicketsu00a0

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