Vaibhav Sooryavanshi steers East Zone into Duleep Trophy final after 13 years
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi inspired East Zone to a 4-wicket win over defending champions Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal in Bengaluru on Tuesday, ending a 13-year wait for a final appearance. East Zone reached 162 for 6 in the chase after the match had been evenly poised following a tied first innings.
East’s progression to their first Duleep final since 2012-13 featured a blend of youth and experience: a 15-year-old left-hander setting the tempo, an established opener providing ballast, and fast bowlers delivering crucial breakthroughs. Sooryavanshi produced a match-defining 92 in the first innings and then played a brisk role in the chase, while Abhimanyu Easwaran offered the stability East needed after his 69 in the first innings.
The target was 159 after Central were dismissed for 158 in their second innings, and Sooryavanshi and Easwaran combined for a 61-run opening partnership that put East in control early. Sooryavanshi accelerated with two sixes and three fours during that stand before he was caught running back from mid-wicket by Central captain Rajat Patidar.
Central briefly threatened when Harsh Dubey claimed four wickets, reducing East to 124 for 5 and removing Easwaran, but East had already established the platform required to finish the chase. Ishan Kishan, who had been injured while keeping on the opening day forcing Sooryavanshi to assume the captaincy, returned to the middle and remained unbeaten on 39 to shepherd the innings.
Mohammed Shami provided the concluding runs, finishing unbeaten on eight as East crossed the line, while the bowling foundations for victory were laid earlier in the match. Central had resumed at 45 for 3 overnight but were bundled out for 158 in the second innings, with Mukesh Kumar taking four for 44 and Shami three for 56.
Mukesh ended the match with seven wickets and was named Player of the Match. The first innings had finished level at 266 apiece, after East had put on 161 for the first wicket before losing their last nine wickets for 105; Central’s Rinku Singh contributed 60 in the contest.
East Zone will meet the winner of the second semifinal between North and South Zone in Chennai next week in the Duleep Trophy final.
