If West Zone are in a position of strength in their Duleep Trophy final against South Zone at Coimbatore, they have their young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal to thank.
Mumbai’s Jaiswal, 20, took just about two-and-a-half sessions for a double hundred which helped West Zone end Day Three on 376 for 3 after South took a 57-run first innings lead.
Jaiswal’s unbeaten 209 off 244 balls was decorated with 23 boundaries and three sixes. It has given West Zone (leading by 319 runs) a good chance for an outright win with two days to spare.
Also Read: Aaron scores winner as St Joseph’s beat Thakur
Jaiswal put on 169 for the third wicket with Shreyas Iyer (71). With Sarfaraz Khan (30 not out), he has an unbroken stand of 58. “It’s one of my special innings. Thank you, God. When Priyank bhai [Panchal] got out [for 40], there was some pressure as the ball was moving a lot. Ajju bhai [Rahane] advised me to stay at the wicket. I was trying to play many shots, but he guided me on how I need to play and read the situation. That helped me a lot to build my innings,” Jaiswal told mid-day on Friday. He had no qualms in admitting that he was tempted to be adventurous. “I was a bit tempted prior to the lunch break. He [Rahane] told me to cut out those shots and play till the end of that session. I got out early in the last two to three innings [a duck and three v Central Zone and for 1 in the first innings of the ongoing final], so he reminded me that I have got this chance and I shouldn’t lose it. I think that advice was the main reason behind me converting my century into a double hundred,” Jaiswal revealed.
Rahane was trapped leg before wicket by the off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham for 15.
Jaiswal elaborated on his game plan: “I was trying to keep myself in a good position mentally. I had different plans for different bowlers. I was thinking about playing my shots fearlessly and did not want bowlers to dominate, so I went for my shots too.”
Brief scores
West 270 and 376-3 (Y Jaiswal 209*, S Iyer 71) v South 327 (B Indrajith 118; J Unadkat 4-52, A Sheth 3-51, C Gaja 2-33)
