BANGALORE, December 10: Debang Gandhi of East Zone stole the limelight, helping East Zone post 337 against Central Zone at the end of the penultimate day of the five-day Duleep Trophy semifinal tie at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday.

A bright sunshine prevailed throughout the day contrary to the weather reports of a cloudy condition. The first day was completely washed out while 65 and 40 minutes of play was possible on the second and third day respectively.

Resuming at their overnight score of 59 for one, East lost overnight not out batsman Nikhil Haldipur for the addition of 11 to the total. Medium pacer Sanjay Bangar on the last ball of his third over of the morning made the ball move off the pitch for Haldipur to edge to Amay Khurasia in the slips.

Gandhi, at the other end, stroked his way to three consecutive boundaries off Bangar's next over. Hirwani had Rohan Gavaskar snapped at forward short-leg by Abbas Ali without opening his account.

Scoreboard: East Zone (1st innings, Overnight 59 for 1): S S Das c Mudgal b Pandey 16; Nikhil Haldipur c Khurasiya b Bangar 34; Debang Gandhi b Gandhe 158; Rohan Gavaskar c Ali b Hirwani 0; Sanjay Raul (run out) 31; Tariq-Ul-Rehman c Mudgal b Murali 0; Robin Morris lbw b Gandhe 34; Utpal Chatterjee c Gandhe b Hirwani 24; Arindam Sarkar (not out) 10; Vinayak Samanth lbw b Pande 11; K V P Rao lbw b Pande 4. Extras: (nb6, lb3, b6) 15.

Total (all out in 116 overs) 337.

Fall of wickets: 1-30; 2-70; 3-85; 4-185; 5-185; 6-262; 7-311; 8-211; 9-331; 10-337.

Bowling: Sanjay Pandey 23-9-57-3; Sanjay Bhangar 17-6-51-1; Preetam Gandhe 21-3-59-2; Narendra Hirwani 28-5-99-2; Karthik Murali 27-8-62-1.

No rain yet no play

VISAKHAPATNAM: The rains were gone but they left a mark at the Ukku Stadium today. For the second day in succession, there was no play in the semi-final between South and West Zone, thanks to some damp spots on the pitch and slushy patches surrounding it.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.