After a string of poor performances in Emerging Asia Cup, Riyan Parag smashes a scintillating century in Deodhar Trophy

Riyan Parag also broke Yusuf Pathan's record for most sixes in an innings in Deodhar Trophy.

Riyan Parag, who had been under fire for his poor form with the bat in recent times, came good when it was needed as he slammed his 4th List-A hundred in the ongoing Deodhar Trophy tournament for East Zone against North Zone on July 28, 2023.

The match is being played at the CAP Ground 3 in Puducherry and saw East Zone captain Saurabh Tiwary winning the toss and choosing to bat first.

The decision proved to be somewhat backfiring for him as Harshit Rana and Mayank Yadav ran through the top order with some excellent bowling. Harshit Rana removed Abhimanyu Easwaran (10) and Virat Singh (2) for cheap, while Sandeep Sharma got rid of Utkarsh Singh for 11.

Mayank Yadav then got into action and took wickets of Subhranshu Senapati (13), skipper Saurabh Tiwary (16), and then the two highest-scorers for the East Zone team.

Riyan Parag slams beautiful 131 with 11 humongous sixes, adds 235 runs for 6th wicket with Kumar Kushagra

When it seemed to be all over for East Zone at 57/5, Riyan Parag and Kumar Kushagra launched a scathing counterattack on North Zone bowlers. Both the batters scored at more than a run-a-ball and added 235 runs for the sixth wicket.

Kushagra was unlucky as he was dismissed by Yadav for 98 in 87 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes. At the other end, Parag took a liking to leg-spinner Mayank Markande, slamming him for four sixes before racing to a 38-ball half-century.

But Parag continued to assault further and hammered 131 runs in 102 balls. He hit 5 fours and launched the ball over the boundary 11 times for six.

During his knock, Parag surpassed Yusuf Pathan’s record of nine sixes for West Zone against North Zone (2010), to record the most sixes in an innings in the tournament’s history. Parag smashed North pacer Sandeep Sharma for three sixes en route to the feat.

Their 235-run stand is the best List A stand for the sixth wicket by an Indian pair in domestic cricket.

Thanks to his brilliant knock, East Zone managed to pile up 337/8 in 50 overs.