East Zone 467 (Shahbaz 167, Gharami 146, Jotin 3-64, Choudhary 3-102) beat North East Zone 111 (Bhatewara 32, Sarkar 5-20, Shahbaz 3-20) and 146 (Jotin 39, Roy 5-37) by an innings and 210 runs
The only time North East Zone had any footing in the game was on the opening morning when they had East Zone at 25 for 2 and then at 128 for 5, but they couldn’t keep up the good work. East, riding on Shahbaz and Gharami’s centuries, notched up 467. In reply, North East slid from 78 for 3 to 111 all out with medium-pacer Sarkar picking up 5 for 20.
After a brief partnership, Joseph Lalthankhuma was nabbed by Shahbaz, who continued from his first-innings exploits where he had picked up 3 for 20. Captain Rongsen Jonathan was then caught behind smartly by Ishan Kishan, while Kangabam Priyojit fell to Roy thanks to a good catch by Virat Singh.
Roy, who managed just a wicket in the first innings, was almost unplayable at times on the third day. Operating primarily from the around-the-wicket angle, he kept the wicket-to-wicket line going, and coupled with his arm ball and subtle changes in pace, chugged away.
East Zone will meet Central Zone, the winners of last season’s Duleep Trophy, in the semi-final, which begins on August 30.
