Duleep Trophy 2026 East Zone vs Central Zone Semifinal
East Zone reached a strong position against defending champions Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 East Zone vs Central Zone semifinal as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck 92 runs on the second day in Bengaluru. His innings also made him the youngest batter to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history.
Central Zone had been bowled out for 266 in 80.1 overs after East Zone chose to field first. Rinku Singh top-scored with 60 from 88 balls, while Abhijit Sarkar and Mukesh Kumar claimed three wickets each for East Zone.
The Duleep Trophy 2026 East Zone vs Central Zone semifinal then shifted in East Zone’s favour through an opening partnership between Sooryavanshi and Abhimanyu Easwaran. The pair added more than 160 runs before Central Zone finally made breakthroughs.
Sooryavanshi reached his half-century from 42 balls, breaking a record that had stood since 1969. Laxman Singh had previously held the mark after scoring a Duleep Trophy fifty at 16 years and 23 days. Sooryavanshi achieved the feat at 15 years and 157 days.
The teenager continued attacking the Central Zone bowling attack and moved into the 90s before falling for 92 from 81 balls. His innings included seven fours and seven sixes. Harsh Dubey took his wicket and then dismissed Kumar Kushagra with the next delivery.
For East Zone batting, the partnership provided an important platform after Central Zone’s first-innings total. Easwaran’s experience alongside Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach helped East Zone reduce the deficit and put pressure back on the defending champions.
The Duleep Trophy 2026 East Zone vs Central Zone semifinal also features a second last-four contest between North Zone and South Zone. North Zone were dismissed for 195 in their first innings, while South Zone ended the opening day at 40/2.
With the Central Zone bowling attack finally breaking the opening stand, the semifinal remains closely contested. East Zone’s next challenge will be to build a substantial first-innings total and gain an advantage over the defending champions.
