Tridib BaparnashNew Delhi, Sept. 8 -- Veteran pacer Mohammad Shami produced two timely strikes in short spells as East Zone tightened their grip on the Duleep Trophy final, leaving South Zone struggling at 242 for six at the end of the third day at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.
South Zone still trail East's mammoth first-innings total of 708 by 466 runs and face a daunting task to even avoid the follow-on, let alone save the match.
Captain Tilak Varma was unbeaten on 56 off 133 balls at stumps, with CV Milind accompanying him on 2. Shreyas Gopal's dismissal for 26 late in the day further dented South's hopes after he and Tilak had put together 66 runs in 26.4 overs.
Shami, 36, finished with impressive figures of 2/17 ...