Get a tighter grip on the East Zone as the South Zone fight fades in the Duleep Trophy Final

East Zone are now firmly in the driver’s seat in the Duleep Trophy final, but South Zone made them work for it before they ran out of batting partners. Tilak Varma’s marathon 99 kept the fight alive on Day 4 but Ishan Kishan’s second innings 80 secured the day for East Zone with a massive lead of 584 runs.

South Zone started at 242/6, needing to somehow get rid of East Zone’s lead of 466 runs. Tilak and Chama Milind had other ideas, at least for a while, as the pair put together a gutsy partnership of 78 runs for the seventh wicket. Milind played his shots and Tilak settled into survival mode, taking the South Zone past 300.

East Zone vs South Zone, Duleep Trophy Final: HIGHLIGHTS

The problem was that once Milind fell for 43 off 68 balls, the support around Tilak quickly disappeared. Tripurana Vijay was run out for 1 before Mohammed Siraj removed Mohammed Siraj for 1, leaving Tilak with the tail and 99 in sight. He came agonizingly close but Md Kounain Quraishi ended the resistance by taking a reverse catch and dismissing him for 99 off 211 balls. South Zone were all out for 336, giving East Zone a 372-run first innings lead.

TILAK’S 99 KEEP THE FIGHT IN THE SOUTH ZONE

Tilak’s innings was just what South Zone needed, though it ultimately couldn’t change the shape of the final. He spent 211 balls at the crease to drag his side from a precarious position to 336, with Milind providing the only substantial partnership around him.

But the moment Tilak left, the first innings of the South Zone was over. The East Zone had their huge lead and they had plenty of time left to extend it.

Rather than send South Zone straight back, Ishan Kishan opted to bat again. The decision initially looked a bit adventurous as East Zone slipped to 13/2.

KISHANA TO THE RESCUE AGAIN

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was stumped for 8 after tripping on Tripurana Vijay, while Abhimanyu Easwaran followed with 3 after he edged Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal at slip.

At 13/2, South Zone suddenly had something to smile about. That didn’t last.

Kishan, who had already smashed 270 in the first innings of the East Zone, once again took the lead. The skipper attacked, kept the scoreboard moving and made sure South Zone couldn’t convert those early wickets into a proper comeback.

He ended up making 80 off 98 balls, giving East Zone another major contribution in the final where he dominated both batting and fielding.

EAST ZONE SET HUGE DAY 5

At stumps, East Zone reached 212/5 in 51 overs. Their total lead has grown to 584, leaving the South Zone facing a dismal final day.

The East Zone can add more runs before deciding when it has enough on the board to strike again. South Zone, meanwhile, need wickets quickly if they are to prevent the deficit from becoming completely ridiculous.

The contrast could hardly be sharper. Tilak spent 211 balls trying to keep the south zone alive, while Kishan followed up his 270 with 80, which put the east zone back in complete control.

With one day left, East Zone are eyeing the trophy. Meanwhile, the South Zone needs something extraordinary.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

09 Sep 2026 17:29 IST