Batter, Unadkat figure in 83-run unbroken ninth-wicket stand to rescue West Zone
COIMBATORE: Patience is a quality Gujarat's wicketkeeper-batter Het Patel has showcased in plenty over the past few seasons. Making his Vijay Hazare debut in 2017, he waited in the wings until the 2021-22 season to earn his maiden Ranji Trophy call-up. He made the most of the opportunity, scoring two centuries and a half-century in three matches.
On Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy final on Wednesday, Patel built on that success to rescue West Zone.
Opting to bat at the Sri Ramakrishna College of arts and science college ground here, Ajinkya Rahane & co were done in by the bounce and carry in the first hour of play. Later, the turn and dip had them on the mat.
Coming out to bat with his team at 64/4, Patel was calm and composed as he crafted an unbeaten 178-ball 96 (6x4; 1x6) to frustrate South Zone. At stumps, West were 250/8 in 90 overs with the ninth-wicket partnership between Patel and Jaydev Unadkat (39 n. o) yielding a defining 83 runs.
Earlier, the new ball pair of Basil Thampi (2/42) and C Stephen (2/39) made the most of the morning conditions. Yashasvi Jaiswal (1) was the first to go in the second over, when a short of good length ball from Stephen nipped back and wicketkeeper Ricky Bhui pouched the inside edge. Next, Rahane's attempted flick off a fuller delivery from Thampi was brilliantly taken by Ravi Teja at covers. Priyank Panchal (7) didn't last long either, adjudged leg-before off an inswinger from Stephen.
At 16/3, Shreyas Iyer (37) and Sarfaraz Khan (34) rebuilt the innings with their 48-run stand. While Iyer was fluent to begin with, Sarfaraz, who was dropped on 12, was subdued.
With the morning sun beating down, there was little left for the pacers as the pitch slowed down. In-form left-arm spinner Sai Kishore (3/80) and offie K Gowtham (1/73) were brought into the attack.
Iyer was guilty of a soft dismissal with his indecisiveness costing him his wicket with Baba Indrajith running in from the covers to hold on to a good catch off Sai Kishore. While the South bowlers pinned down Sarfaraz, he decided to break free and swept Sai Kishore to the boundary. He repeated the shot in the next delivery but top edged to Indrajith at fine leg.
Patel added 63 runs for the seventh wicket with Atit Sheth (25) before finding an able partner in Unadkat with whom he batted for 21 overs. To his advantage, the South bowlers began to tire and offered one too many loose balls which he took full advantage of.
Brief scores: West Zone: 250/8 in 90 overs (Shreyas 37, Sarfaraz 34, Patel 96 batting, Sheth 25, Unadkat 39; Thampi 2-42, Stephen 2-39, Sai Kishore 3-80) vs South Zone
