West Zone has secured their spot in the final of the 2023 Duleep Trophy after a draw against Central Zone in the first semifinal. Led by Priyank Panchal, West Zone’s 92-run first-inning lead was the deciding factor in their qualification for the summit clash. Cheteshwar Pujara’s outstanding century in the third innings also played a significant role in their victory.
Central Zone captain, Shivam Mavi, had a remarkable performance with the ball, claiming six wickets as West Zone was bowled out for 220 in their first innings. Atit Sheth’s fighting knock of 74 provided some stability for West Zone. In response, Central Zone could only manage 128 runs, thanks to Arzan Nagwaswalla’s impressive figures of 5/74.
Despite losing two early wickets in their second innings, West Zone’s Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav guided them to a total of 297. With a target of 390, Central Zone was at 128/4 before rain interrupted the game, resulting in a draw.
Atit Sheth showcased his all-round skills for West Zone, contributing with both bat and ball. He scored 74 runs in the first innings and took three wickets in Central Zone’s first innings. Sheth now boasts 98 first-class wickets to his name at an average of 25-plus.
On the other hand, Shivam Mavi’s excellent bowling performance in the first innings, where he claimed six wickets for 44 runs, was impressive. Mavi now has a total of 59 wickets in his 14 first-class games, with a strike rate of 19-plus.
Arzan Nagwaswalla shone with his five-wicket haul in Central Zone’s first innings, finishing with figures of 5/74. Nagwaswalla also took one wicket in his second outing, bringing his total to 93 wickets in 24 games at an average of 24-plus.
Suryakumar Yadav, who had a slow start in West Zone’s first innings, made a quick-fire fifty in the second innings, scoring 52 runs off just 58 deliveries. This was Yadav’s 29th first-class half-century, and he has accumulated over 5,610 runs in 81 games at an average of 44-plus.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 28 runs in the first innings, came back strong in the second innings with an impressive knock of 133 off 278 balls. This was Pujara’s 60th first-class century, and he has recorded 76 fifties as well. Pujara has amassed over 19,350 runs in his illustrious first-class career at an average of over 51.
Spinners Saurabh Kumar and Saransh Jain starred in West Zone’s second innings, each claiming four wickets. Saurabh Kumar now has 264 wickets to his name in 62 first-class games at an average of 24-plus, while off-spinner Saransh Jain has 66 wickets in 22 games at a 27-plus average.
Overall, West Zone’s strong performance in both batting and bowling secured their place in the final of the Duleep Trophy. With their qualified team and outstanding individual performances, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the summit clash.
