NEW DELHI: Cheteshwar Pujara's brilliant century paved the way for West Zone's dominance as they reached 292 for 9 in their second innings against Central Zone, firmly placing themselves on the path to the Duleep Trophy final on Friday.
Starting the day at 149 for 3, West Zone extended their lead to a commanding 384 on a rain-hit third day, which forced an early closure. Pujara, unbeaten on 50 overnight, displayed intent from the beginning and left no chances for the bowlers. His magnificent innings of 133 runs off 278 balls included 14 boundaries and a six, and he batted for a total of 366 minutes.
The day began on a positive note for Central Zone as they dismissed Sarfaraz Khan in the very first over. The young Mumbai batsman edged left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar to wicketkeeper Upendra Yadav, who took a simple catch. This marked the end of an underwhelming outing for Khan, who scored 0 and 6 in this match.
Despite the Central Zone bowlers troubling batsmen at the other end, Pujara remained resolute. The Saurashtra star showcased his intent early on, playing out 102 balls for 42 runs with three boundaries. Pujara eliminated risks from his game and only played shots to the balls that deserved to be put away.
During this period, Het Patel made a significant contribution of 27 runs. The right-hander's elegant stroke play was pleasing to the eye. Pujara went into lunch on 92 and wasted no time in reaching his century upon his return. He struck a couple of fours off Saurabh, one through the covers and one behind the point fielder, to complete his hundred.
Once he surpassed the milestone, Pujara transformed into a different batsman. Saurabh and off-spinner Saransh Jain, who claimed seven wickets between them, faced the brunt of his assault. Pujara played attractive shots, including a stunning six off Saurabh. A ball drifting towards his leg was effortlessly flicked over mid-wicket with a simple flick of his wrists.
Additionally, Pujara executed his trademark flicks off both pacers and spinners, who bore the majority of the bowling load on the day. With wickets falling regularly at the other end, Pujara aimed to retain strike, but his attempt to take a quick single off the last ball of an over resulted in a run-out.
Nevertheless, he had already done enough to seal the fate of the match. If no play occurs on the final day, West Zone will advance to the final due to their 92-run first innings lead.
Pujara's exceptional century showcased his class and determination, proving once again why he is considered one of the premier batsmen in Indian cricket. His contribution has placed West Zone in a commanding position, and they will look to secure their spot in the Duleep Trophy final with another dominant performance in the remaining play.
(With inputs from PTI)
