# East Zone Secures Duleep Trophy Semifinal Berth With Dominant Win Over North East Zone

> East Zone advanced to the Duleep Trophy semifinals by defeating North East Zone by an innings and 210 runs, powered by a stellar all-round performance from 31-year-old Shahbaz Ahmed.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Cricket · **Published:** 2026-08-25 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/east-zone-secures-duleep-trophy-semifinal-berth-with-dominant-win-over-north-east-zone-21800 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Duleep Trophy 2026, East Zone cricket, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, cricket news

The first quarter-final match of the Duleep Trophy 2026 between East Zone and North East Zone concluded with a massive victory for East Zone by an innings and 210 runs at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. With this comprehensive win, East Zone successfully booked a place in the semifinals of the tournament. The driving force behind this victory was 31-year-old Shahbaz Ahmed, whose stellar all-round contribution proved pivotal. He anchored the batting lineup with a magnificent century and also picked up a total of 4 wickets across both innings with the ball, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.

 

## **Early Setbacks for Top Order**
 Winning the toss and batting first, East Zone faced early troubles when marquee players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan failed to deliver substantial scores. Vaibhav was dismissed for 8 runs off 6 deliveries, while Ishan managed only 4 runs from 9 balls. Despite these quick setbacks, the team managed to recover significantly as other batsmen stepped up to construct major innings and propel the total to a commanding position.

 

## **Centuries from Sudip Kumar and Shahbaz Ahmed**
 The revival was led by Sudip Kumar Gharami and Shahbaz Ahmed, both of whom scored brilliant centuries. Sudip played a magnificent knock of 146 runs off 185 balls, hitting 25 boundaries and a six. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Ahmed compiled 167 runs from 244 deliveries, featuring 17 fours and 4 sixes. Complementing them, Kumar Kushagra added a valuable contribution of 55 runs. Fueled by these impressive performances, East Zone posted a formidable total of 467 runs on the board.

 

## **North East Zone Collapses Under Pressure**
 In response, North East Zone struggled heavily during their first innings and were bundled out for just 111 runs. Following the massive deficit, East Zone enforced the follow-on. The second innings brought no relief for North East Zone as their batting lineup crumbled once again, getting bowled out for 146 runs. Feroijam Jotyn top-scored for his side in the second innings with 39 runs.

 

## **Bowling Dominance and Match Conclusion**
 During the second innings, Anukul Roy spearheaded the East Zone bowling attack by claiming the highest number of 5 wickets. Additionally, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bowled 3 overs and picked up two wickets. The clinical display in both departments sealed a comprehensive victory and propelled East Zone into the next stage of the tournament.

## What this means for you
**For cricket fans:** This domestic tournament clash highlighted standout individual performances and emerging talent in the regional circuit.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where was the first quarter-final match of the Duleep Trophy 2026 played?
The match was played at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

### 2. By what margin did East Zone defeat North East Zone?
East Zone won the match by an innings and 210 runs.

### 3. How many runs did Shahbaz Ahmed score and how many wickets did he take?
Shahbaz Ahmed scored 167 runs off 244 balls and took a total of 4 wickets across both innings.

### 4. Who took the most wickets for East Zone in the second innings?
Anukul Roy claimed the highest number of 5 wickets for East Zone in the second innings.

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