New Delhi: Rinku Singh of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) brought some fabricated excitement in the ongoing Duleep Trophy by smashing a 30-ball 40 for Central Zone in the semi-final versus West Zone despite being overlooked for the impending five-match T20I series against the West Indies. In the final hour before lunch, Rinku took the West Zone bowlers to the cleaners.

Rinku, who had hit five straight sixes for Kolkata Knight Riders against Yash Dayal of the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, would have none of it. The target was almost unattainable.

Dharmendra Jadeja, a left-arm spinner for the Central Zone, took the brunt of his aggression, getting hit for two sixes, one of which even left the stadium.

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The southpaw from Uttar Pradesh holed out to Arzan Nagwaswalla in the deep, putting an end to the amusement, but the strain of the scoreboard eventually got the better of him.

Rinku had also performed admirably in the opening innings, scoring a 69-ball 48 to push Central Zone over the 100-run threshold.

The match finished in a draw, however West Zone was the team to go to the final thanks to a key first innings advantage.

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When play was halted by rain, Central could only manage 128 for 4, needing 399 to win. The match ended in a draw because the action could not resume.

For the forthcoming three T20Is against Ireland next month, Rinku may be called up to the Indian team, according to reports.

South Zone, who defeated North Zone in the other semi final, will meet West in the Duleep Trophy 2023 final.

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