Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener smashed his way to a double hundred in just about two-and-half sessions. Previously West Zone took control of proceedings despite South’s 57-run first innings lead on the third day of the Duleep Trophy final here.
By the end of the third day’s play, West Zone were 376 for 3, courtesy of Jaiswal’s unbeaten 209 off 244 balls that had 23 boundaries and three sixes.
West now has a lead of 319 runs. Even if they announce at lunch on Day four, they will have five full sessions to force a full victory. Notably, for South, it will be about batting out in the fourth innings and winning the trophy by first innings lead.
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Jaiswal had a 169-run third wicket stand with Shreyas Iyer (71) and another 58 for the unbroken fourth wicket with Sarfaraz Khan (30 batting).
It was a day that will be best remembered for the duel between two powerhouse performers in this year’s domestic cricket, said left-handed opener Jaiswal and left-arm spinner Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore. Jaiswal who failed in the first innings, came out with a lot more optimistic purpose in the second essay after South were dismissed for 327 with an addition of only nine runs to their overnight score of 318/7.
Jaiswal was severe on South pacers Basil Thampi (0/67 in 9 overs) and CV Stephen (0/27 in 6 overs) as he and Priyank Panchal (40) added 110 runs at little under five per over for the opening stand.
South skipper Hanuma Vihari missed the trick when he brought up Sai Kishore (27-5-100-2) only as the second change after the opening stand yielded 80 plus runs. Panchal was caught off Sai Kishore’s bowling and Ajinkya Rahane was then trapped leg before by the off-spinner Gowtham (33-1-139-1).
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