BENGALURU: In a thrilling semifinal of the Duleep Trophy held at the BCCI Center of Excellence, East Zone emerged victorious against Central Zone, claiming a four-wicket win that secured their place in the final. The match, which saw a total of 13 wickets fall, concluded with East chasing down a target of 159 runs with a day to spare, showcasing their dominance in the tournament.
Leading the charge for East was captain Ishan Kishan, who remained unbeaten on 39 runs, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed a crucial 40 runs. Their performances were instrumental in East reaching the target, marking their second consecutive match concluded within three days, following a similar quick victory over Northeast in the quarterfinals.
Sooryavanshi's innings was particularly noteworthy, as he demonstrated a shift in his batting approach during the chase. After a cautious start, he exploded in the 14th over, hitting Yash Thakur for three boundaries and a six before being dismissed by a running catch from Central's skipper Rajat Patidar. Despite facing a challenging spell from Central's slow left-arm bowler Harsh Dubey, who took four wickets, Kishan and his team managed to steer East to victory.
Central Zone, who began the day at 45 for 3, struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals. Mukesh Kumar was a standout performer for East with the ball, claiming four wickets, while Mohammed Shami added three more to his tally, leading to Central's collapse as they lost their last seven wickets in the morning session.
In the other semifinal match taking place simultaneously, North Zone was engaged in a tense battle against South Zone. After South extended their lead to 117 runs, North, who initially looked strong at 175 for 2, found themselves at 256 for 7 at the end of the penultimate day. The Delhi duo of Sanat Sangwan and Ayush Doseja played well, scoring 76 and 52 runs respectively, but North's innings faltered after a promising start.
Vidwath Kaverappa, despite being hindered by a leg injury, managed to take the crucial wicket of Doseja, which shifted the momentum back to South. North's innings was further derailed as they lost five wickets in a short span after tea. However, Nishant Sindhu and Anshul Kamboj formed an unbeaten partnership to stabilize the innings, ensuring that North remained competitive.
As the Duleep Trophy progresses, East Zone's performance continues to impress, and they will be looking to carry this momentum into the final match. The results of the semifinals highlight the competitive nature of the tournament, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion.
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