Jammu and Kashmir`s Shubham Khajuria struck a fighting, unbeaten century to rescue North Zone, but South Zone remained favourites to progress to the Duleep Trophy final, here on Saturday. In reply to South Zone`s imposing first-innings total of 536, North Zone ended day three of the semifinal at 278/5, still trailing by 258 runs. The task of avoiding a first-innings deficit now rests heavily on Khajuria, who carried his bat for 128 not out from 245 balls (20x4, 1x6).

North`s innings began poorly with captain Ankit Kumar trapped leg-before by Gurjapneet Singh in the sixth over, and promising Yash Dhull (14) also fell cheaply, leaving the side wobbling at 38/2 in the first half an hour`s play. Ayush Badoni (40) offered some resistance, putting on 63 with Khajuria, but was dismissed by MD Nidheesh as North were reduced to 101/3.

Khajuria then found solid support in Haryana`s spin bowling all-rounder Nishant Sindhu (82), and together they stitched the day`s most important partnership of 171 runs for the fourth wicket. The pair dominated the second session, denying South a breakthrough as Khajuria raised his half-century off 107 balls and Sindhu played fluently at the other end.