Duleep Trophy Final 2023: West Zone’s hopes rest on Priyank Panchal’s shoulders

West Zone's Priyank Panchal (92) and Sarfaraz Khan (48) shared a 98-run stand to keep their team afloat in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone. Panchal's clean technique and temperament, and Sarfaraz's streaky play saw West Zone reach 182/5 at the end of the fourth day. South's V. Koushik's classy seam bowling put the top-order through the wringer, while missed chances from Hanuma Vihari and Sachin Baby allowed West to stay in the game. West needs 116 runs to win.

Priyank Panchal (92 batting, 205b, 11x4) and Sarfaraz Khan (48, 76b, 5x4, 1x6) kept West Zone afloat against South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday.

The 98-run fifth-wicket stand between Panchal and Sarfaraz took West Zone to 182 for five at the end of the fourth day. If Panchal can bat for another session, West will fancy its chances of knocking off the 116 runs needed for victory.

Panchal batted for a little over five hours, in an innings marked by clean technique and temperament.

In contrast, Sarfaraz’s stay was streaky. The Mumbai batter countered the bouncers by turning his back to the ball. As a result, he took blows to the helmet and shoulder.

With two slips in place, Sarfaraz lived on the edge by playing the late cut to left-arm spinner Sai Kishore. Sarfaraz’s adventures came to an end just before close of play, when he made a mess of an over-pitched delivery from Sai Kishore.

South pacer V. Koushik put the mighty West top-order through the wringer with an exhibition of classy seam bowling. Koushik got the ball to move both ways, forcing Prithvi Shaw, Panchal, Cheteshwar Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav to push, probe and hope for the best.