Duleep Trophy: Mushtaq’s Five-for, Arshdeep’s Three Put North Zone Ahead

North Zone consolidated their position against West Zone in the 2026 Duleep Trophy quarter-final with great bowling performances from Abid Mushtaq and Arshdeep Singh. West Zone were bowled out for 187 with Mushtaq taking five wickets and Arshdeep three to give North Zone a vital first-innings advantage of 64 runs. By the conclusion of the second day North had increased their total lead to 171 runs and were well in the driving seat.

Early Face Pressure North Zone

North Zone had a formidable lineup in the quarter-final but were under the pump after being bowled out for 251 in their first innings. The West Zone bowlers, especially Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande, used the circumstances well to not let the North Zone batsmen put up a greater score. West was left with a chance to build a big lead on 251.

But North Zone bowlers fought back well as West started their first innings. The match soon developed into a contest of discipline, patience and flexibility with the red-soil surface giving assistance to the spinners.

West Zone Strives to Build Partnerships

The West Zone showed resilience but was unable to forge the partnerships needed to take control of the innings. Musheer Khan showed enough of patience against a disciplined North Zone assault as he worked his way to his 31 off 126 balls. But his departure was another key moment in the innings.

West Zone’s most successful hitter was Shams Mulani, who scored 52 and was the only member of the team to surpass the fifty-run mark. He had the backing of the lower order but the fightback was not sufficient to wipe out North Zone’s first-innings lead.

West Zone ultimately collapsed for 187 in 65.4 overs. They were 64 runs behind North Zone in the total and the momentum had moved dramatically toward the team from the north.

Key Match Figures

Abid Mushtaq Turns the Match on Its Head with a Spell

Abid Mushtaq emerged as the key focus of North Zone’s fightback. The Jammu and Kashmir left-arm spinner ended with fantastic numbers of 5 for 39, running through West Zone’s middle order and making sure the opposition couldn’t convert promising beginnings into a big total.

Mushtaq’s method was simple, but quite successful. He didn’t have too many variations but he focused on bowling in the proper spots and making the batsmen play. The surface was good for bowling at a good speed for a spinner, so his deliveries were hard to attack.

North Zone has already picked up a crucial wicket on day one with the removal of Prithvi Shaw. He came back to attack on the second day and kept on troubling the West Zone hitters. He dismissed Shivalik Sharma after accounting for crucial batsmen like skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, Urvil Patel and Musheer Khan.

North Zone Extend Lead

North Zone had taken command by bowling West out for 187 but still had work to do with the bat. West Zone bowlers made a comeback with early wickets in the second innings.

Shams Mulani sent back Yash Dhull and Qamran Iqbal and Tanush Kotian sent back Ayush Doseja. North were 41 for three and West Zone had a short chance to get back into the game.

Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad then stemmed the rot with a useful stand. North recovered to hold their position and steadily build up their overall lead. Samad scored 30 before being bowled by Kotian, while Badoni remained undefeated on 39 at the finish of play.

The North Zone ended on 107 for four. Adding their first-innings lead of 64 to their second-innings lead, they took an overall lead of 171 runs.

What the North Zone Needs on Day Three

North Zone go into the following day with the simple aim of extending the advantage to a point where West Zone are under real strain. A target of more than 250 would have given their bowlers a good opportunity to protect the lead, especially the way Mushtaq and Arshdeep bowled.

The batting side also must prevent another collapse. Badoni’s unbeaten 39 has given a good start but the North Zone will need contributions from the rest of the batting order before declaring or being bowled out.

Early wickets will be crucial for West Zone. Their spinners will have to get rid of Badoni early and stop North from setting a big goal in the fourth innings.

Conclusion

The Duleep Trophy 2026-27 started on August 23 with the six zones participating in the traditional zonal format. The event is underway at the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru and serves as a significant red-ball platform for experienced players and budding local prospects.

The North Zone against West Zone quarter-final has been an interesting fight thus far with West initially exerting pressure on North via the ball but Mushtaq and Arshdeep turning the play around. The next several meetings will decide whether North can turn their advantage into a position in the following level.

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