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Priyank Panchal-led West Zone entered the final of Duleep Trophy 2023 on the basis of first innings lead. Cheteshwar Pujara starred with a ton in second innings whereas Arzan Nagwaswalla took a fifer to bundle out Central Zone for 128 in the first innings.
On Day 4 of the Duleep Trophy semi-final, West Zone lost their last wicket early in form of Yuvrajsinh Dodiya. They got all out for 297 and set a 400-run target for Central Zone.
Central Zone's run chase got off to a horrible start. Arzan Nagwaswalla got the wicket of Himanshu Mantri whereas Vivek Singh fell to Atit Sheth. Dhruv Jurel and Amandeep Khare shared a 38-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja got Jurel stumped.
Rinku Singh walked out with an intent to take on the bowlers. Rinku smashed three fours and three sixes in his 30-ball 40. Dodiya ended Rinku's entertaining knock. Khare and wicketkeeper-batter Upendra Yadav stayed unbeaten before rain played spoilsport. Their score was 128/4 from 35 overs.
What happened on first three days?
West Zone skipper Panchal won the toss and opted to bat first. West Zone suffered a batting collapse with big names Prithvi Shaw, Pujara, Suryakumar Yadav and Sarfaraz Khan failing. Sheth's 74-run knock with support from Jadeja helped them post 220. Central Zone skipper Shivam Mavi impressed with a six-fer.
In reply, Central Zone suffered a batting collapse as well. Jurel and Rinku missed their half-centuries whereas Nagwaswalla picked up a fifer.
In the second innings, West Zone lost their openers early again. However, Suryakumar counter-attacked with a half-century. Pujara did not deter from his natural game. He played patiently while wickets fell on the other end. Pujara scored 133 runs from 278 deliveries including 14 fours and one six. His century was an answer to selectors as he was dropped from India’s Test squad for two-Test series against West Indies.
The finalists
West Zone will take on South Zone in the final of Duleep Trophy starting July 12 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. South Zone beat North Zone by two wickets chasing 215 to join West Zone in the final.
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