A 173-run stand between openers Connor Williams and Wasim Jaffer provided West Zone with the ideal platform on the first day of their four-day encounter against Central Zone at Rajkot on Tuesday. The partnership ensured that West, despite suffering minor hiccups towards the end of the day, were a healthy 286 for five when bad light led to play being called off after only 83.3 overs had been bowled.

In the morning, it was the Williams-Jaffer show all the way. Batting patiently, the duo piled on the runs before Williams departed for a well-made 74, a knock that included 15 boundaries. West skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who replaced Williams, did not trouble the scorers, being snared by veteran leg-spinner Narender Hirwani for no score. Jaffer, however, was unruffled by the loss of two quick wickets, and he duly made his way past the coveted three-figure mark, reaching 127 before falling to Harvinder Singh.

West lost two other wickets on the day - those of Altaf Merchant (32) and Vinod Kambli (6) - as Central launched a spirited fightback late in the day. Off-spinner Kulamani Parida and Hirwani, who pegged away relentlessly at the West batsmen, were the two most successful bowlers for Central on the day.

Former India players Nayan Mongia (17) and Sairaj Bahutule (7) will now resume battle for the West on Wednesday.

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