In a breathtaking display of pace bowling, North Zone seized control of their Duleep Trophy quarterfinal against East Zone on August 29, 2025, at Bengaluru, thanks to Aquib Nabi’s sensational five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, and fiery spells from Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. East Zone crumbled to 230, handing North a commanding 183-run lead after posting 405 all out, driven by Kanhaiya Wadhawan’s gritty 76.

The day belonged to Nabi, whose 5/28 spell dismantled East’s batting. His hat-trick in the 53rd over—dismissing Virat Singh (69), Manishi, and Mukhtar Hussain in consecutive deliveries—triggered a collapse, with East losing five wickets for eight runs. Nabi’s second spell (3.1-0-5-5) was near-unplayable, culminating with Mohammed Shami’s dismissal. “Bowling with Arshdeep and Rana taught me to stay positive and seize opportunities,” Nabi said post-match.

Arshdeep, fresh from an injury layoff, bowled 17 hostile overs, proving his readiness for the Asia Cup. His dismissal of Sharandeep Singh, nicking the off-stump bails, set the tone. Rana complemented with heavy balls, snaring Utkarsh Singh (38) and Sridam Paul (7) with sharp movement. Arshdeep praised Nabi’s discipline: “He bowled with incredible control, earning his five wickets in just two overs.”

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East’s batting faltered despite Virat’s fluent 69. A lapse in judgment saw him bowled by Nabi, sparking the dramatic slide. Earlier, East’s left-arm spinner Manishi shone, claiming 6/64, all leg-before, to wrap up North’s innings. Wadhawan and Nabi (44) frustrated East with a 66-run eighth-wicket stand, defying Shami’s fiery bursts that left Wadhawan bruised but unbowed.

North’s dominance was built on disciplined bowling and tactical acumen, with Arshdeep and Rana’s long spells signaling their preparedness for India’s upcoming home Tests against the West Indies. The duo’s ability to exploit overcast conditions and a tricky pitch kept East under relentless pressure. Nabi, reflecting on his Ranji Trophy form (44 wickets last season), credited his teammates’ guidance for his match-defining performance.

As North Zone tightens its grip, East faces an uphill battle to claw back. With the pitch offering variable bounce and the bowlers firing, this quarterfinal is poised for more drama.

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