Duleep Trophy: Mukesh, Sooryavanshi and Kishan book East Zone’s spot in final

Duleep Trophy – Semi‑Finals

East Zone vs Central Zone

Venue: Bengaluru

• Result: East Zone won by 4 wickets, securing a place in the final.
• Key bowling figures:
  • Mukesh Kumar – 4 wickets (second‑day hero, also took 2 wickets the previous day)
  • Mohammed Shami – 3 wickets (broke the partnership at 63/5)
• Crucial batting contributions:
  • Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 40 (opening stand of 61 with Abhimanyu Easwaran)
  • Ishan Kishan 39* (finished unbeaten, guided chase of 159)
  • Kumar Kushagra steady at the other end.

Match flow

• Central Zone were 43/3 at stumps on Day 1.
• A second‑innings shoot‑out saw both sides finish the first innings on identical scores.
• East Zone chased 159, losing early wickets but recovered thanks to the partnership between Kishan and Kushagra, reaching the target with four wickets in hand.

South Zone vs North Zone

Venue: (not specified)

• Result: South Zone edged North Zone, taking a 90‑run lead into the final day and finishing on 139 with three wickets in hand.
• Top performances:
  • Tilak Varma (South Zone) 116* – unbeaten, anchored the chase.
  • Sanat Sangwan & Ayush Doseja (North Zone) – century partnership that erased the deficit, Sangwan set up a strong position at 190/3.
  • Shreyas Gopal (South Zone) – vital wickets: LBW of Abdul Samad, later dismissed Sangwan and skipper Kanhaiya Wadhawan.
  • MD Nidheesh – claimed Sangwan’s wicket.
• Key moments:
  • North Zone’s early loss of Qamran Iqbal, who had starred in the first innings.
  • A late collapse triggered by Gopal’s breakthrough, turning the match in South Zone’s favour.
  • An unbeaten stand of 47 runs between Anshul Kamboj and Nishant Sindhu carried South Zone to a comfortable lead at stumps.

Summary
South Zone’s disciplined bowling in the second innings and Varma’s century ensured they overcame North Zone’s recovery, earning a spot in the Duleep Trophy final.