West Zone’s skipper Priyank Panchal led his team to a resounding nine-wicket victory over North East in the opening round-robin match of the Deodhar Trophy in Puducherry. The Gujarat right-hander, known for his patience in the red ball format, unleashed a brutal assault on the North East bowlers, smashing an unbeaten 99 off just 69 balls. Opting to chase, West Zone’s opening pair of Panchal and Harvik Desai laid waste to the North East bowling attack. Desai, equally aggressive with the bat, contributed a blistering 85 off 71 balls. Together, the duo amassed an impressive 167-run opening stand in a mere 21.1 overs, setting the stage for a comfortable run chase. Panchal’s innings was nothing short of spectacular, as he struck seven sixes and an equal number of boundaries. Left-arm spinner Imliwati Lemtur bore the brunt of Panchal’s onslaught, conceding three of the seven sixes. The efficient run chase was completed in just 25.1 overs, with West Zone finishing on 208 runs, sealing a comprehensive victory. However, the foundation for this win was laid by West Zone’s collective bowling effort. Youngster Arzan Nagwaswalla and seasoned Mumbai left-arm spinner Shams Mulani emerged as the chief tormentors, claiming three wickets and two wickets, respectively. Their disciplined bowling restricted North East to a modest 207 in 47 overs. North East’s batting struggles were evident throughout their innings. Early in the third over, opener Anup Ahlawat departed for just six runs to the pace of left-arm seamer Arzan Nagwaswalla. Although Nilesh Lamichaney (22) and Jehu Anderson (24) stitched together a 40-run partnership for the second wicket, the team found it difficult to build substantial stands. By the 28th over, North East were teetering at 104 for 5, with skipper Langlonyamba Keishangbam (30) also returning to the pavilion. However, a brief fightback by Larry Sangma (16) and Imliwati Lemtur (38) saw them put together a 49-run stand for the eighth wicket. Nonetheless, medium-pacer Chintan Gaja broke the partnership in the 46th over, and eventually, North East was bowled out for 207 by the 47th over. Lemtur emerged as the top scorer for North East, exhibiting a valiant effort with five fours and a six. West Zone’s emphatic victory, fueled by Priyank Panchal’s magnificent innings and a disciplined bowling attack, serves as a promising start to their Deodhar Trophy campaign.