Prithvi Shaw (61 batting) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (55 batting) regaled for West Zone, who finished at a strong 116 for no loss, during the brief time in which play was possible on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal match against North East Zone here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.
On a gloomy day in the city, overnight rains and poor light followed by brief showers just before the scheduled start of play ensured a delayed start to the day’s proceedings.
Eventually, play started at half-past two in the afternoon but had to end an hour before the scheduled close of play due to bad light with just 25 overs bowled in the day.
Electing to field first, the North East bowlers were put under attack from the first over. Jaiswal got off in style pulling pacer Bishworjit Singh for a six over the fine-leg fielder before Shaw punched one through backward point to pocket 12 off the first over.
Jaiswal, who had a dream Ranji Trophy last season making 498 runs from three matches with three centuries, continued from where he left off last season finding boundaries with ease.
The left-handed Mumbai batter played some delightful backfoot punches off left-arm pacer Rex Rajkumar Singh as he quickly raced to his 20s. After a watchful start, his fellow Mumbai opener Shaw took centre stage and played in his famed aggressive way.
He was particularly severe on Rex, pulling him for two sixes over fine leg and then got to his half-century in style with two more consecutive sixes over midwicket.
Jaiswal soon got to his landmark and both batters will look to make merry in the coming days against an inexperienced bowling attack, that never looked threatening.
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