After left-arm medium pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla‘s impressive five-wicket haul restricted Central Zone to 128, West Zone reached 149 for 3 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 241.
The day started with Shivam Mavi taking six wickets to quickly dismiss West Zone for 220, adding just four runs to their overnight score. However, Central Zone’s joy was short-lived as Nagwaswalla’s impressive spell of 5/74 decimated their batting lineup.
Apart from Dhruv Jurel (46) and Rinku Singh (48), none of the other Central Zone batters managed to reach double digits. Nagwaswalla’s timely breakthroughs earned him his sixth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
With a 92-run lead from the first innings, the West Zone batters showed better form. Pujara remained unbeaten on 50 off 103 balls with five boundaries, while Suryakumar Yadav’s attacking innings of 52 off 58 balls, including eight fours and a six, gave West Zone a decisive advantage.
The two India internationals combined for a partnership of 95 runs in just over 24 overs.
Sarfaraz Khan, who failed to score in the first innings, will have an opportunity to redeem himself as he remains unbeaten on 6 in the second innings.
The third day is expected to be the best day for batting and the West, having already put one foot in the summit door, would just like to kill the game as a contest unless Avesh Khan and Shivam Mavi could bowl a magical spell and keep the target within reach.
Suryakumar was severe on the pacers as Avesh was pulled for a six behind square while Mavi and Yash Thakur were also punished. He hit three boundaries each off pacer Yash Thakur and left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar. A couple of hits to the fence were of Mavi’s bowling.
Pujara’s innings had a couple of extra-cover drives, two customary clips towards deep mid-wicket and a square cut that raced away.
A big score will certainly boost his confidence after being excluded from the Indian team touring the West Indies.
Brief Scores:
West Zone: 220 all out in 92.5 overs (Shivam Mavi 6/44) and 149/3 in 39 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 50 batting, Suryakumar Yadav 52, Sarfaraz Khan batting 6, Saurabh Kumar 2/34).
Central Zone: 128 in 31.3 overs (Rinku Singh 48, Dhruv Jurel 46, Arzan Nagwaswalla 5/74).
(With PTI inputs)
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