Four runs versus one wicket

Duleep Trophy clash between Central and South hangs in the balance at the end of Day Two

It wasnt quite like the climax of an exciting ODI but as he looked to steer Central Zone towards 330,with the shadows lengthened at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday,Murali Kartik wouldve been reminded of that barmy night against Australia in Mumbai when he had led India to a memorable win.

Such is the nature of the four-day game that both teams were scrambling for that all-important first-innings lead,and the outcome of the game could end up being decided within the first 10 minutes on Day Three. The opening Duleep Trophy encounter hangs in the balance Central require four runs more with last-man Umesh Yadav all set to face the first ball in the morning.

The second day of the match seemed to go almost the same way as the first,with Centrals innings proving to be a replica of South Zones first essay. The wicketkeepers ended up being the top-scorers for both teams,and both sides suffered early batting collapses before the middle and lower-order steadied their respective ships. The spinners on both sides failed to make any impact and it was the fast bowlers who did all the damage.

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Laxmipathy Balaji and Sreesanth started the day off for South Zone,using the new ball to perfection but it was the part-time medium pace of Robin Uthappa that got them the first wicket when Tanmay Srivastava edged a leg-side delivery to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik. In-form Shivakant Shuklas leg-stump was then sent cart-wheeling by Sreesanth,and Balaji got veteran Yere Goud to edge a perfect outswinger.

But Central Zone captain Mohammad Kaif brought some calm to the proceedings,and even managed to subdue his naturally aggressive partner Naman Ojha as the two began rebuilding the innings.

VVS Laxman was himself guilty on two occasions as South Zone allowed a number of valuable opportunities to bite the dust during the course of the day. Balaji suffered the most as a result of the dropped catches,and ended up with only two wickets despite bowling with lot of heart.

Kaif played sensibly for his 73 before being dismissed because of an ugly swipe off leg-spinner Marripuri Suresh. And Ojha,who had been let off at slip early in his innings made a solid 85 before being trapped lbw late in the day by a slower delivery from Sreesanth.

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The duo of Kartik and Piyush Chawla may not have had much joy on Thursday with the ball in their hands,but came out all guns blazing when it was their turn to bat. With Central still needing 64 runs to go past Souths first innings tally,Kartik carried on unperturbed even after he was grassed by Rahul Dravid and Abhinav Mukund.

But when,at 323 for seven,it seemed Central were going to safely sail past the 330-run target,Chawla and Pankaj Singh fell in quick succession,leaving Kartik and last-man Yadav to endure an endless night of anxiety.