Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays the role of East Zone as they beat the defending champions to reach the Duleep Trophy final

East Zone’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays on day three of the Duleep Trophy semi-finals. (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s aggressive cameo, backed by fiery spells from Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, helped East Zone into the Duleep Trophy final with a four-wicket win over defending champions Central Zone on Tuesday.The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi made a valuable contribution of 40 off 43 balls as East Zone chased down a target of 159 on the spin on the third day of the semi-final.East, the 2012-13 tournament winners, will face either South Zone or North Zone in the final in Chepauk from September 6.

Sooryavanshi provides an early spark before a dramatic release

Chasing 159, East needed a steady start as the pitch increasingly helped the spinners. Sooryavanshi initially took a cautious approach and scored his first 15 runs off 30 balls.But once he found his rhythm, the left-hander shifted gears spectacularly. His next 25 runs came from just 13 deliveries, including another six and three boundaries.His opening partner Abhimanyu Easwaran was smoother initially, including Saransh Jain with a six off the off-spinner over long-on, while Sooryavanshi struggled to find equal freedom against spin.However, the teenager came alive when Yash Thakur was brought into the attack. Sooryavanshi, who had already hammered the pacer for four fours and two sixes in the first innings, went after it again, smashing three fours and a six in the 14th over.But his attacking approach also caused his downfall. Sooryavanshi fell in the same over when Rajat Patidar completed a stunning catch of Thakur.His dismissal suddenly changed the mood of the chase and East lost wickets at regular intervals. Harsh Dubey then struck twice in consecutive deliveries, removing Kumar Kushagra and Anukul Roy to leave East on 124 for five.

Shami, Mukesh dismantle Central before Kishan completes the chase

Earlier, Central had resumed their second innings at 45 for three but suffered a dramatic collapse in the extended first session. They lost their remaining seven wickets to be bowled out for 158.Shami and Mukesh were the main destroyers, taking advantage of the variable bounce and help available to the bowlers. Shami finished with 3/56 while Mukesh claimed 4/44 to complete a seven-wicket haul in the match.Mukesh was subsequently named man of the match, providing timely support to the out-of-favour Indian seamer.Central briefly threatened to chase the chase when Dubey and Arshad Khan added 43 for the ninth wicket to take their side past 150. But East held their nerve to complete the win.Ishan Kishan then produced a composed 39 off 41 balls to guide East home with minimal further trouble.“Personally, not just me, everyone in the team is looking forward to playing the final. It will be encouraging if we can go on and win that title,” Easwaran said after the match.