East Zone Clinch Duleep Trophy Final Spot After Thrilling Win Over Central Zone

East Zone booked their place in the Duleep Trophy final on Tuesday, overcoming defending champions Central Zone by four wickets in a tense semifinal encounter. The victory, achieved on the third day of play, was set up by a disciplined bowling performance that dismantled the Central Zone batting lineup before a composed chase guided the side to a target of 159.

The match was defined by a pivotal shift in momentum during the first session, where Central Zone, resuming at 45 for three, saw their innings collapse to 158 all out. The East Zone pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar proved instrumental, exploiting the variable bounce of the pitch to stifle the opposition. Mukesh Kumar, who claimed 4/44 in the second innings to finish with a seven-wicket match haul, was named Player of the Match for his decisive contribution.

The game saw a brief period of uncertainty when East Zone lost wickets in quick succession, including a double-strike from Harsh Dubey that left the side at 124 for five. However, Ishan Kishan steadied the ship with an unbeaten 39 off 41 balls, ensuring the team navigated the remaining runs without further drama. Central Zone’s late attempt to defend their total was hampered by a 43-run ninth-wicket partnership between Dubey and Arshad Khan, but it was not enough to prevent the result.