West Zone were heading towards a big first innings lead at stumps on the third day of their Duleep Trophy semifinal against East Zone at Calcutta on Saturday. In reply to West Zone's first innings total of 600 for eight declared, East Zone were a shaky 208 for five wickets at close of play.

West Zone, who resumed at 544 for seven, declared their innings after scoring 56 more runs in eleven overs. The eighth wicket stand between IR Siddiqui and BN Mehta put on 46 runs before Siddiqui was out for 42 while at the declaration, Mehta remained unbeaten with 24.

Openers SS Das and Nikhil Haldipur gave East Zone a sound start putting on 83 runs off 28.5 overs. Das was then run out for 30. In the next over East Zone suffered a major blow when the in form Rohan Gavaskar was leg before to Z Khan. The home team suffered a severe setback when Haldipur was also run out for 59 at 110. Haldipur, who was shaping well, faced 106 balls and hit 12 fours. Mhambrey dismissed Parida for 14 while T Rehman was leg before to BN Mehta for 4 and by now the East Zone innings, at 155 for five, was in shambles. However experienced Saba Karim stood firm and by close of play he was batting with 60. The India stumper faced 112 balls, hit eleven fours and received able support from Sukhbinder Singh (23) with whom he shared an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 53 runs in 19.4 overs by stumps.

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