East Zone are now firmly in the driver’s seat in the Duleep Trophy final, but South Zone made them work for it before running out of batting partners. Tilak Varma’s marathon 99 kept the fight alive on Day 4, but Ishan Kishan’s second-innings 80 ensured East Zone finished the day with a massive 584-run lead.
South Zone began at 242/6, needing to somehow chip away at East Zone’s 466-run advantage. Tilak and Chama Milind had other ideas, at least for a while, as the pair put together a gritty 78-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Milind played his shots and Tilak settled into survival mode, taking 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 disappeared quickly. 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 got agonisingly close, but Md Kounain Quraishi ended the resistance by taking a return catch to dismiss him for 99 off 211 balls. South Zone were all out for 336, handing East Zone a 372-run first-innings lead.
TILAK’S 99 KEEPS SOUTH ZONE FIGHTING
Tilak’s innings was exactly what South Zone needed, even if it ultimately could not change the shape of the final. He spent 211 balls at the crease and dragged his side from a precarious position to 336, with Milind providing the only substantial partnership around him.
But the moment Tilak departed, South Zone’s first innings was over. East Zone had their huge lead, and they had plenty of time left to make it even bigger.
Rather than send South Zone straight back in, Ishan Kishan chose to bat again. That decision initially looked a little adventurous when East Zone slipped to 13/2.
KISHAN TO THE RESCUE, AGAIN
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was stumped for 8 after charging at Tripurana Vijay, while Abhimanyu Easwaran followed for 3 after edging Mohammed Siraj to Devdutt Padikkal at slip.
At 13/2, South Zone suddenly had something to smile about. It did not last.
Kishan, who had already smashed 270 in East Zone’s first innings, took charge again. The captain counter-attacked, kept the scoreboard moving and made sure South Zone could not turn those early wickets into a proper comeback.
He eventually made 80 off 98 balls, giving East Zone another major contribution in a final he has dominated with both bat and leadership.
EAST ZONE SET UP A HUGE DAY 5
By stumps, East Zone had reached 212/5 in 51 overs. Their overall lead had ballooned to 584, leaving South Zone facing a daunting final day.
East Zone can add more runs before deciding when they have enough on the board to attack 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 South Zone alive, while Kishan followed his 270 with an 80 that put East Zone back in complete control.
With one day left, East Zone are staring at the trophy. South Zone, meanwhile, need something extraordinary.
– Ends
