Cheteshwar Pujara (28), Suryakumar Yadav (7) and Sarfaraz Khan (0) disappointed as West Zone struggled to 216/8 on Day 1 of their Duleep Trophy semi-final clash against Central Zone at Alur on Wednesday.

For Pujara, who has been dropped from the upcoming West Indies Tests, this was one opportunity to send a message across to the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. But even after lasting 102 balls, all he could manage was 28, which obviously won’t be helping his prospects of a comeback.

North Zone’s Harshit Rana celebrates after taking a South Zone wicket on Wednesday. PTI picture

Batting at No.3, Pujara fell off the bowling of Uttar Pradesh quick Shivam Mavi, who starred with the ball for Central Zone with figures of 4/43. Mavi also dismissed Surya and Sarfaraz.

The national selectors shouldn’t be too impressed with Surya’s performance in longer formats, as this was another opportunity which he wasted. As for Sarfaraz, his sympathisers and he need to realise that scoring tonnes of runs in Ranji Trophy alone isn’t enough.

In the other semi-final in Bangalore, South Zone were 63/4 at stumps after bowling North Zone out for 198.

Summarised scores

⚫ West Zone 216/8 (A. Sheth 74;S. Mavi 4/43) vs Central Zone. ⚫ North Zone 198 (V. Kaverappa 5/28) vs South Zone 63/4.Stumps, Day 1.