Quraishi century headlines final day as East Zone secure Duleep Trophy

The East Zone team secured the Duleep Trophy with a convincing win on the final day of the tournament. The team's lead in the first innings was too great for their opponents to overcome, with the final score standing at 340 runs in excess of their opponents' 210. Kounain Quraishi, a Jharkhand all-rounder, celebrated his maiden first-class century, sharing a 150-run partnership with Anukul Roy to seal the win. The partnership came just as the match was looking uncertain, putting pressure on the opposing team to respond. Shikhar Mohan emerged from the shadows with a telling all-round display, taking 3 wickets for 27 runs in 8.5 overs. The victory marked the East Zone team's first win of the tournament, with the Duleep Trophy hanging in the balance. East Zone's senior batsman, Tilak Varma, hopes that his performance will propel him into the Test cricket team. The final score was East Zone 320, Opponent 210, Drawn. Shami, a prominent seam bowler, continued to rage against the dying of the light, still managing to pick up 4 wickets for 64 runs in 15 overs. Despite the loss, the opposing team showed resilience, with their senior batsman, Kishan, hitting a fifty as they battled to stay in the game. The match came down to a single hand, with the opposing team losing their last wicket to seal the win. The victory marked a significant milestone for the East Zone team, with their first win of the tournament and the Duleep Trophy now within their grasp.