---
title: "East Zone reach Duleep Trophy semifinals with big win over North East Zone"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/east-zone-semis-duleep-trophy-2026-0umyp
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Sports
published: 2026-08-25T11:03:31.226Z
modified: 2026-08-25T13:00:07.869Z
language: en-IN
---

# East Zone reach Duleep Trophy semifinals with big win over North East Zone

East Zone beat North East Zone by innings and 210 runs to reach the Duleep Trophy semi-finals, powered by Shahbaz Ahmed's 167 and Sudip Kumar Gharami's 146, with Anukul Roy taking five second-innings wickets.

## Key takeaways

- East Zone defeated North East Zone by an innings and 210 runs to reach the semifinals.
- Shahbaz Ahmed top-scored with 167; Sudip Kumar Gharami contributed 146.
- Anukul Roy claimed five wickets in the second innings for East Zone.

## What Happened

East Zone defeated North East Zone by an innings and 210 runs to secure a place in the Duleep Trophy semifinals. East Zone posted 467 in their first innings, with Shahbaz Ahmed scoring 167 off 244 balls and Sudip Kumar Gharami contributing 146 off 185 balls. North East Zone were bowled out for 111 in their first innings and 146 in the second, with Anukul Roy returning five wickets in the second innings to seal the rout. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi claimed two wickets in the second innings for East Zone, while Mohammed Shami did not take a wicket in either innings. The quarterfinal match was held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 on August 25, 2026.

In the same match, North East Zone’s batting effort collapsed under pressure as Roy spearheaded the second-innings destruction, and East Zone built a decisive lead after the first innings collapse by North East Zone.

## Why It Matters

The victory sends East Zone into the Duleep Trophy semifinals, illustrating their dominance in the quarterfinal stage through a large first-innings total and a comprehensive second-innings bowling performance. The contributions of Shahbaz Ahmed and Sudip Kumar Gharami provided the bulk of the runs for East Zone, while Anukul Roy’s five-wicket haul underlined the bowlers’ role in sealing the win. The result helps East Zone extend their campaign into the knockout rounds, potentially shaping team momentum for the next match.

## Background

The Duleep Trophy is a first-class competition involving zonal teams. Quarterfinal EZ vs NEZ was played to determine which team would advance to the semifinals. East Zone’s 467 and North East Zone’s low replies set the tone for a decisive contest, with Roy’s spellmaking second innings collapse finishing off the opposition. East Zone earlier showed resilience, enabling a strong setup for the knockout stage.

## Key Facts

- East Zone won by an innings and 210 runs over North East Zone.
- East Zone first innings: 467; North East Zone first innings: 111.
- North East Zone second innings: 146; East Zone second innings: not required.
- Shahbaz Ahmed scored 167 off 244 balls for East Zone.
- Sudip Kumar Gharami scored 146 off 185 balls for East Zone.
- Anukul Roy took five wickets in North East Zone’s second innings (5-37).
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took two wickets for East Zone in the second innings.
- Match location: BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2; Date: August 25, 2026.

## What Happens Next

East Zone advances to the Duleep Trophy semifinals. The forthcoming semifinal opponent and schedule will be decided by the tournament’s knockout structure and remaining results from the other quarterfinals.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/east-zone-semis-duleep-trophy-2026-0umyp
Reported from: Multiple Sources