North Zone made a relatively easy entry into the Vijay Hazare Trophy Under-16 tournament with the help of the massive 198-run first innings lead over West Zone in the semifinal match at the Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wodayar Sports Centre in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Resuming at 160 for three, West Zone's overnight pair of opener SO Kukreja (79) and CR Suryavanshi (74) took the socre to 207. Kureja was the first to be dismissed on the final morning, stumped by Bhupinder Singh off Abhinav Bali. During a 224-minute stay at the crease, Kukreja faced 185 balls and hit eleven fours and two sixes. Yousuf Pathan (6) did not last long and in the 63rd over was trapped leg before by Paras Dogra. Parag Madkaikar (54) then joined Suryavanshi and forged a 68-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Suryavanshi was the next to be dismissed, caught by Rahat Ali off Gaurav Gupta. During a stay of two hours at the crease, Suryavanshi faced 121 balls and hit six fours. Thereafter, an eighth wicket stand worth 52 runs ensued between Madkaikar and Sunasura (32). Though Madkaikar battled at one end he lost partners and the innings folded up at 359.

North Zone in their second innings scored 107 for 1 in 25 overs. Openers Rahul Arora (25) and S Dhawan (66) added 72 runs in 17.3 overs. Arora was the only casuality of the day for North, when he found himself run out. Then Kuldeep Rawat (12) and Dhawan took the team to stumps.

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