Star Vidarbha batter Danish Malewar continued his scintillating form from last season, scoring an unbeaten 198 for Central Zone against the North-East in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal on Thursday.
Strong Start for Central Zone
Central Zone were asked to bat first but lost Aayush Pandey early in the third over. Malewar then joined wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal, and the duo put on a 144-run partnership for the second wicket.
Juyal retired hurt on 60, but Malewar combined with skipper Rajat Patidar to add 199 runs for the third wicket. Patidar was eventually dismissed for a brilliant 125. Malewar and Yash Rathod then added 85 runs for the fourth wicket. By the end of Day 1, Central Zone were 432/2, with Malewar unbeaten on 198 and Rathod on 32.
Career-Best Milestone
After tea, Malewar’s crisp straight drive took him from 153 to 157. He cleared the ropes after 35 boundaries, reaching 196 before moving to his career-best 198.
This innings marked Malewar’s fifth fifty-plus score in just four first-class games. His standout performance last season came in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final, where he scored 153 and 73 in the two innings to guide Vidarbha to the title.
Rising Star
Malewar has now scored 981 runs in 10 first-class games at an average of 65.4. He first caught attention with 79 and 29 in the Ranji semifinal against Mumbai, helping Vidarbha secure a place in the final with an 80-run win.
He made his first-class debut against Andhra Pradesh in October 2024 and scored a half-century in the second innings, signaling the start of a promising domestic career.
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