Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy claimed five wickets as East Zone stormed into the Duleep Trophy semi-finals with an innings and 210-run demolition of North East Zone here on Tuesday.
The match lasted less than two and a half days, with North East bowled out for 146 in their second innings after being forced to follow on following a first-innings total of just 111.
East Zone had earlier piled up 467 in their first innings.
Anukul Runs Through North East
Resuming at 7 for no loss on the third morning, North East struggled against Anukul, who repeatedly kept the batters guessing with deliveries that either turned away or held their line.
The India A spinner finished with impressive figures of 15-4-37-5, recording his seventh five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
North East’s resistance was briefly extended by Pheiroijam Jotin Singh and Akash Choudhary, who added 39 runs for the ninth wicket.
Jotin top-scored with 39, while Choudhary contributed 27, but their efforts could only delay the inevitable as East wrapped up the innings in 50 overs.
Kishan Stars Behind Stumps
East skipper Ishan Kishan also played a major role in the emphatic victory with an excellent performance behind the wickets.
Kishan completed five dismissals, including two stumpings and three catches.
The match ended when Jotin attempted to attack Anukul but was comfortably stumped by Kishan, completing East’s comprehensive victory.
Sooryavanshi Joins The Party
With the match firmly under East Zone’s control, Kishan handed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an opportunity to bowl.
The youngster made an immediate impact, picking up two wickets as North East’s innings collapsed.
Shahbaz Ahmed was adjudged Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round contribution of 167 runs and four wickets.
East Zone will now advance to the semi-finals of the Duleep Trophy.
Brief Scores:
East Zone: 467.
North East Zone: 111 and 146 in 50 overs (P Jotin Singh 39; Anukul Roy 5/37).
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