CHENNAI: Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar may currently find themselves outside India’s red-ball set-up, but the two Bengal pacers offered a timely reminder of their quality on a flat MA Chidambaram Stadium surface on Tuesday.Bowling in Chennai heat, Shami and Mukesh combined for four wickets as East Zone tightened their grip over the Duleep Trophy final. South Zone ended Day Three on 242-6, still trailing by 466 runs after East had posted a mammoth first-innings total.Shami (2-17 in 11 overs) showed superb control as he went on to pick the wickets of well-set Shaikh Rasheed and Smaran Ravichandran, both talented players from the South stable. Mukesh, on the other hand, returned figures of 2-36 from 12 overs. The pair complemented each other beautifully, constantly discussing what length to bowl, and used reverse swing smartly.“After roughly 20 overs, there was a little bit of movement – reverse and otherwise. We benefited from that, so we were able to pick up wickets quickly,” Mukesh said at the end of day’s play.East captain Ishan Kishan was careful with his premier seamers, aware of the physical demands of bowling in humid conditions. Shami opened with a three-over spell that cost just one run, while Mukesh bowled four and removed Ricky Bhui, who edged a delivery that zipped down the leg side to Kumar Kushagra.“It is very hot here right now, and the wicket is flat. So, five or six-over spells wouldn’t really work here…In fact, long spells can lead to cramps,” Mukesh said. “Our plan as a team was to bowl in short bursts…We put in maximum effort into every ball. That worked out well for us.”With left-arm spinner Anukul Roy unable to bowl after injuring his bowling hand on Monday, East had to rely on part-time spin.Shikhar Mohan, bowling left-arm orthodox in Anukul’s absence, made the most of his opportunity by claiming his maiden first-class wicket when N Jagadeesan (32) sliced a delivery to Abhimanyu Easwaran at backward point.Devdutt Padikkal, fresh from his impressive India performances, reached his half-century off 65 balls but his partnership with Rasheed was broken by Shami. The veteran paceman returned after lunch to dismiss the right-hander, nipping one back sharply to trap him leg-before.Mukesh, also created considerable pressure and picked the prized scalp of Padikkal, who fell for 62. “The plan against Devdutt was to bowl stump-to-stump,” Mukesh said. “On wickets like this, if you offer width to batters, runs will leak. Our plan was to stay consistent, bowl dot balls and let them take the risks.”The key, Mukesh explained, was not trying to overdo things on a flat pitch. “Speed was a priority, but without fitness you can’t increase pace. Then it is about hitting the deck and gauging the length that works on this pitch,” he said.

Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 56 offered South some resistance, with Shreyas Gopal adding 38 before falling to Kounain Quraishi in the last over of the day.Brief scores:East Zone 708 all out. South Zone 242-6 (Padikkal 62, Tilak 56*). Match to continue.