Duleep Trophy: West lose late wickets, close at 220/7 chasing 287; East beat North East by an innings and 210 runs

West Zone lost four wickets in the final 30 minutes of day three to finish 220 for seven while chasing 287 in their Duleep Trophy quarterfinal against North Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Musheer Khan had put West firmly in the hunt with a 111-run fourth-wicket partnership before both were dismissed; Gaikwad made 66 (70b, 7x4) and Musheer scored 96 (126b, 8x4, 2x6). The late collapse, which included two wickets in the final over off left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, left the match finely balanced.

Gaikwad was run out after risking a sharp single, beaten by a direct hit from wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan, while Musheer was dismissed when he attempted a one-handed sweep and was caught behind. The red-soil pitch, which "had hissed and spluttered until then," became a spectator as the pair batted before their departures shifted momentum.

Urvil Patel remained at the crease on 17 (17b, 3x4) at stumps, and all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian were yet to bat for West Zone. The twin setbacks in the closing stages came after the pair had rebuilt the chase following an early wobble.

North Zone, who had reached 107 for four overnight, were dismissed for 222 in their second innings with Ayush Badoni top-scoring with 50 (62b, 6x4). All ten wickets in that innings were taken by spinners, with Musheer claiming two of them.

On the adjacent ground, East Zone completed an innings and 210-run victory over North East, setting up a semifinal meeting with defending champions Central Zone. North East were bowled out for 146 after beginning the day at seven for no loss, with Anukul Roy taking five wickets (five for 37) and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi returning two for 11.

The scores: North Zone 251 & 222 in 51 overs (Ayush Badoni 50, Nishant Sindhu 44, Shams Mulani 4/78, Tanush Kotian 4/46) vs. West Zone 187 & 220/7 in 51 overs (Musheer Khan 96, Ruturaj Gaikwad 66). East Zone 467 bt North East Zone 111 & 146 in 50 overs (Anukul Roy 5/37).

The quarterfinal between West and North remains undecided with West 220 for seven chasing 287 at the close; East Zone will face Central Zone in the semifinal.