Duleep Trophy LIVE Score, East vs South Final updates: Title decider begins in Chennai; Squads, streaming info

Catch the live score and updates from the Duleep Trophy Final between South Zone and East Zone. | Photo Credit: PTI

Welcome to Sportstar’s HIGHLIGHTS from Day 1 of the East Zone vs South Zone Duleep Trophy Final match being played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

We’ll be back for the second day’s coverage. Play will resume at 9:30am IST and you can tune into Sportstar’s live blog to catch all the updates.

East Zone has romped over South Zone’s spirit on the opening day of this Test match. It was pretty much even at 241 for four midway through the second session. But Ishan Kishan and Kumar Kushagra have pushed South far into a corner and set the platform for a big win for East. Their partnership is now worth 144 runs.

Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also played a part in giving a platform as they combined for a 100 runs for the first wicket. But Chama Milind’s effort, which got him two crucial wickets, was truly undone by the pair currently at crease.

South fielders and bowlers looked hapless by the end of the day and they truly need some magic overnight to claw their way from this situation. East will be looking to bury them under runs on Day 2 and push for an innings win.

Ishan Kishan slams 10th First-Class century

This was Ishan Kishan’s second century in the Duleep Trophy. The southpaw had struck a ton two years back for India C in Anantapur.

East Zone 359/4 in 75 overs

Fifty for Kumar Kushagra in 67 balls, he’s played the perfect second fiddle to Ishan Kishan.

He cuts away a delivery from Shreyas through covers and completes a single to bring up his seventh FC half century.

East Zone 346/4 in 72 overs

Aditya Padinjat: It’s just starting to as unravel here for South Zone. First, no-one picks up a top-edge from Kishan that runs away for four, then as he rolls his wrists for two the very next ball, N. Jagadeesan throws the ball at the stumps and concedes four byes. Not great stuff.

East Zone 327/4 in 70 overs

Another expensive over from South Zone. Vijay gives away 16 runs in an over. Kishan first pulls him through fine leg. Kushagra then picks 10 runs with a drive through covers and slog through the on-side.

The partnership now worth 86 runs.

East Zone 307/4 in 67 overs

Kushagra charges down the wicket to Vijay and hoicks him over midwicket.

South Zone already giving the indication of looking out of answers. Absolutely no help from the surface either.

East Zone 297/4 in 64 overs

Another fifty partnership for East Zone. Kushagra cuts Vijay through covers, where the fielder makes an absolute mess of a regulation shot and lets it through his hands.

Kishan gets another four in the over with a slammed hit right back past the bowler.

Ishan Kishan leading by example

Aditya Padinjat: A very patient fifty comes up for East Zone captain Ishan Kishan. It’s been a very mature knock from him, gets a big cheer from the crowd as he raises his bat.

East Zone 288/4 in 63 overs

Ishan Kishan completes his half century. A well-paced innings, hasn’t taken unnecessary risks but also taken on the attack from South Zone batters. He gets there in 71 balls.

And right on cue, he takes a long stride out against Shreyas and hoists the leg-spinner over deep midwicket.

East Zone 280/4 in 62 overs

Vijay comes back into the attack. The pacers have given away 34 runs in eight overs in this session. South Zone now trying to reign in the scoring rate.

Umpires have a word with Ricky Bhui

The Andhra batter is the stand-in captain with Tilak Varma off the field for now. The umpires have a word with South Zone over its slow over rate. This is the second time it has been given a warning.

South has bowled just five overs in the half hour of play in the final session.

East Zone 270/4 in 58 overs

A massive six for Kumar Kushagra! Siraj bowls around the wicket, attempts a bouncer. Kushagra is waiting for it, swivels across and hooks this into the stands. The short-ball plot not quite going to plan.

East Zone 260/4 in 57 overs

South Zone sticking to the short ball ploy post the Tea break. Ishan Kishan attempted a pull off Siraj on one such bouncer and got an edge over the keeper for a boundary.

Who is Shikhar Mohan - the southpaw who impressed on Day 1?

The 21-year-old stole the spotlight on day one of the Duleep Trophy final, scoring 85 off just 120 balls and impressing with his wide range.

Aditya sums up the second session

Honours just about even at the end of the second session, I’d say. East Zone was in control for most of that session again, with Shikhar Mohan adding to his already impressive CV of knocks, but the wickets that bookmarked it keep South Zone in the hunt. A good third session either way will put one of these two in the drivers seat.

Ishan Kishan took a backseat in his 94-run partnership with Mohan, but he will look to get a move on after the break you’d imagine.

East Zone 246/4 in 54 overs

A fiesty little battle towards the end of the session between Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Siraj. The pacer sets a short ball set up with boundary riders deep on the on side. They have a bit of an exchange too with each other. All fun though.

East Zone 241/4 in 53 overs

Aditya Padinjat: Short ball theory pays off for South Zone again! CV Milind has been bending his back for a few overs, and gets his reward as Mohan inside-edged a pull onto his stumps 15 shy off a ton. Unfortunate end to a magnificent knock.

East Zone 222/3 in 48 overs

Shikhar Mohan taking on Shreyas Gopal now. He picks the length and launches the first delivery over midwicket. On the third delivery, he lofts him over long off. He’s now on 79 off 105 balls.

East Zone 204/3 in 46 overs

Shikhar picks a boundary off Vijay with an inventive shot. He premeditates going over midwicket but has to come up with an improvised whip after the ball turns away from him sharply.

That shot also gets East Zone past 200.

East Zone 197/3 in 44 overs

The 50-run partnership between Ishan and Shikhar Mohan comes up in just 77 deliveries. A very important stand that has again put South Zone on the back foot. Another wicket or two would have really left East susceptible of a collapse.

East Zone 190/3 in 40 overs

Shikhar Mohan has been equally efficient with his defence as well. Ishan picks a single on the first delivery in this over from Shreyas. This leaves Shikhar on strike and he brings out a textbook defence on all remaining five balls.

Shikhar Mohan impresses on Duleep Trophy debut

Aditya Padinjat: He was brought into the team for Virat Singh, and he’s justified his inclusion with a brisk knock. He’s played some very handsome strokes today, and will want to convert this to three figures now.

East Zone 189/3 in 39 overs

Ishan Kishan picks another boundary. Vijay errs and bowls too short, allows time to go deep into his crease and pull through midwicket.

He gets another couple on the fifth ball with a drive wide of long off.

East Zone 182/3 in 37 overs

Fifty for Shikhar Mohan. Punches Vijay through covers to take a quick single and complete the milestone. He gets there in just 61 balls.

We want more of Ishan Kishan vs Mohd Siraj, please!

Aditya Padinjat: The crowd was just a little quiet after Lunch, but seeing Mohammed Siraj bowling to Ishan Kishan has definitely woken them up. Great theatre as Siraj starts with the bouncer and Kishan lets it go.

East Zone 179/3 in 36 overs

Ishan Kishan gets going now, driving a full delivery from Nidheesh through covers for a boundary. Six runs from that over.

East Zone 173/3 in 35 overs

Shikhar Mohan continues to impress. The southpaw picks three consecutive boundaries off Vijay. Starts with a hit right into the sight screen, follows it up with a another waft downtown before capping it off with a drill through extra covers.

He is batting on 48 off 57 now.

East Zone 157/3 in 32 overs

Aditya Padinjat: Early breakthrough after Lunch for South Zone after a threatening over from Tripurana Vijay. First, Shikhar Mohan gets in a tangle attempting the sweep. Umpire gives the lbw shout not out, and Tilak opts not to review. A couple of balls later, Sudip Gharami attempts to go over mid-on, and picks him out to perfection.

East Zone captain Ishan Kishan strolls out to the crease at five to a resounding cheer from the crowd.

Aditya with the first session summary

The first session of the final is decidedly East Zone’s, though South Zone has clawed things back towards the end. With a strong crowd in, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got things off to a rollicking start with 91 in the first hour, but Sooryavanshi fell on the stroke of 100 to the short ball. Easwaran looked in sublime touch, reaching 50 in 46 balls, but found himself back in the shed on 72 owing to a calamitous run-out.

For South Zone, Mohammed Siraj has looked a little tired, and his seven overs have cost 48. CV Milind, and spinners Shreyas Gopal and T Vijay have grown into the game as it has gone on. Shikhar Mohan and Sudip Gharami will be looking to keep the momentum going after lunch.

A session thoroughly belonging to East Zone, set up by the 100-run opening partnership between Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. But their wickets in the final 40 mins will inevitably give South Zone the feeling that it is within reach of restricting its opponent.

East Zone 133/2 in 25 overs

Abhimanyu Easwaran is OUT on 72! Run out!

He pushes Vijay’s first ball towards point and sets off. Shikhar takes a couple of steps forward but realises this is not a run, asks his partner to go back.

Abhimanyu is half way down and by the time he gets to the crease, DDP has run from slip, collected the ball and thrown it to the stumps and the keeper has taken the bails off.

Sudip Gharami comes in at No. 4.

East Zone 133/1 in 24 overs

A boundary for Shikhar Mohan after quite some time off Siraj. He rides the bounce on this hard length ball, plays it off his toes and flicks it away through square leg.

There’s a misfield too from Chama Milind also helped him in getting that.

East Zone 125/1 in 22 overs

One brings two. South Zone manages to string together two back-to-back maidens. This one is from Nidheesh. It’s probably the impending lunch break that has forced a recalibration.

East Zone 125/1 in 21 overs

A maiden over from Tripurana Vijay after he returns for his second spell. That’s the first maiden over of the innings.

East Zone 125/1 in 20 overs

The first time this session where Abhimanyu has not looked in control. He jabs at a delivery outside off, gets an edge but luckily for him the ball flies wide of gully. He picks four off that.

He picks a single on the final delivery to keep the strike.

East Zone 118/1 in 18 overs

Nidheesh back into the attack.

A boundary for Abhimanyu, it comes with a sublime use of wrists, a length ball, pretty straight but the batter is able to steer it wide of mid on. Abhimanyu cover drives the last delivery through covers for another couple.

Nine runs from this over.

East Zone 109/1 in 17 overs

Another tidy over from Milind. He’s given away only 14 from his four overs, keeping a lid on the scoring rate.

This over costs just two singles, and one of them came only because of a misfield at midwicket.

East Zone 107/1 in 16 overs

Shikhar picks his first boundary, gets an overpitched delivery from Shreyas, clears his front foot and whacks this through the on side. Two singles apart from that in this over.

East Zone 101/1 in 15 overs

Milind for his third over.

WICKET! Sooryavanshi falls on 44, Milind gets the big wicket! It is the bouncer that proves the undoing, Sooryavanshi goes for a pull shot and fluffs it to the trap set at deep square leg.

Shikhar Mohan is the next batter.

East Zone 98/0 in 14 overs

Another change in bowling, Shreyas Gopal comes in to bowl.

Fifty for Abhimanyu Easwaran! He gets a full toss on the middle-stump line, works it away through the on side to run two. A late cut on the next ball to collect a boundary.

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East Zone 91/0 in 13 overs

Milind for his second over.

Four for Abhimanyu to finish the over! He drives this through covers. Milind tries a couple of bouncers in this over too but Abhimanyu ducks under. Seven runs from it.

East Zone 84/0 in 12 overs

Another two boundaries for Abhimanyu!

The first delivery turns into him and he trickles it down fine leg. The next boundary comes on the fourth delivery, full and straight and Abhimanyu blasts it past mid-off.

East Zone 72/0 in 11 overs

Siraj is finally out of the attack. Chama Milind is the new bowler. He starts off with a no-ball but manages five dot balls on the trot. A single on the final delivery for Abhimanyu.

East Zone 70/0 in 10 overs

SIX for Abhimanyu, dances down the wicket to Vijay and wafts it over the long on boundary.

The ball is stuck somewhere on the first tier. A chef descends from the kitchen nearby to find it and throw it back in.

A half-chance, Sooryavanshi charges down to slash hard but Vijay bowls wider and induces a leading edge, falls just beyond short third man.

East Zone 61/0 in 9 overs

Siraj to continue, this will be his fifth over. He’s given away 31 off his first four.

Back-to-back boundaries for Abhimanyu! Both come with pull shots off his back foot. The first one is over midwicket, the second is through square leg.

East Zone 51/0 in 8 overs

First over of spin. Off-spinner Tripurana Vijay comes on to bowl.

Abhimanyu getting inspiration from his batting partner, he gets to the pitch of this full-lengthed delivery and launches this over mid-off. That also brings up the fifty-run partnership.

East Zone 45/0 in 7 overs

Sooryavanshi gets going off Siraj. He picks a four with a drive through covers. On the very next ball, he stands tall to a length ball and picks it up over long off boundary.

Ends the over with another boundary, another loft down the ground over mid-off’s head.

East Zone 31/0 in 6 overs

Sooryavanshi picks another boundary, Nidheesh sticks to the hard length but bowls slightly wider and the 15-year-old punches this.

Four again on the third ball, this time Sooryavanshi lofts this over covers. He gets a single on the fourth delivery.

East Zone 22/0 in 5 overs

Siraj once again. He sticks to the spread out field against Sooryavanshi, keeping long on and long off. Two singles off the first two deliveries, then Abhimanyu gets a couple with a wristy flick on the final ball.

East Zone 18/0 in 4 overs

Nidheesh finally managing to get the length right to restrict Sooryavanshi, keeps it at the off-stump line and targets him with the hard length.

The fifth delivery is slightly wide which allows Sooryavanshi to punch through covers and pick two.

East Zone 16/0 in 3 overs

First boundary of the morning! Full and wide from Siraj and Sooryavanshi carves it through cover-point. A swing and a miss on the next, good response from Siraj as he gets this delivery to swing away.

Sooryavanshi picks a single to long on on the third ball. Yes, you read that correctly, there is a long on in place.

FOUR now for Abhimanyu, gets it on the pads and he guides it toward the fine leg fence.

M.D. Nidheesh from the other end.

Sooryavanshi with a punch through point to pick a single. Abhimanyu nudges a ball going down leg to fine leg, picks another run.

Sooryavanshi with another single through backward point region on the fifth ball.

Mohammed Siraj to bowl the first over.

He gets a bit of zip and bounce off a good length. Easwaran gets off the mark with a glance on the third ball, two runs for him. Sooryavanshi gets an over-pitched delivery first up, he goes for the drive and nearly chops it on.

East Zone: Ishan Kishan (c/wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shikhar Mohan, Kumar Kushagra, Sudip Gharami, Anukul Roy, Kounain Quraishi, Mohammed Shami, Abhijit Sarkar, Mukesh Kumar.

South Zone: Tilak Varma (c), N. Jagadeesan (wk), Ricky Bhui, Shaik Rasheed, Devdutt Padikkal, R. Smaran, Shreyas Gopal, Chama Milind, Tripurana Vijay, Mohammed Siraj, M.D. Nidheesh.

East Zone has won the toss and opted to bat against South Zone.

Stay tuned for the lineups!

A look in for Tripurana Vijay?

Here is what Tilak Varma said on Satuday: We will decide tomorrow morning how the wicket is, if there is moisture or something 100 per cent we will look into an off-spinner, because they have got three left hand top order batsmen, so yeah we will look for an off-spinner as well.

Today, he is warming up along with Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Gopal.

Shami, Mukesh marking their run-ups

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What to expect from the pitch

This is what Ishan Kishan had to say about the pitch: My observation is that the ball might not turn from day one, maybe it will take some time, the pitch is like a clay container.

Aditya had a look at the square from the press box on the match eve and observed a covering of grass. Although, it has been pruned down today. If there is any grass at all, it should hold the surface together, prevent the cracks from opening up on the first two days. Starting the third day, spinners could play a major role.

When will the Duleep Trophy Final be played?

The East Zone vs South Zone Duleep Trophy Final will start on Sunday, September 6 and will be played till Thursday, September 10.

At what time will the Duleep Trophy Final begin?

The East Zone vs South Zone Duleep Trophy Final will begin at 9:30 AM IST every day. The toss on Day 1 will take place at 9:00 AM IST.

Where to watch the live streaming of Duleep Trophy Final?

The East Zone vs South Zone Duleep Trophy Final will be streaming live on JioHotstar app and website. The game will also be televised on the Star Sports network.

The major reason to shift the final to Chennai was to allow the fans to get a glimpse of their favourite stars in action. The TNCA announced free entry into the stadium and we have people already queuing up at the Chepauk gates, with still more than an hour left before start of play.

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What's to look forward to?

There will be plenty of subplots to follow within the final.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell just eight runs short of a record First-Class century in the semifinals. Against South Zone, he will have the chance to get the mark.

There’s Mohammed Shami, who will be featuring in his 100th First-Class match. He’s picked just five wickets through the two games but has been a workhorse for the East Zone attack.

Devdutt Padikkal returns from a successful India stint in Sri Lanka. His performance will be keenly followed by selectors with the tour of New Zealand looming.

India A plays two unofficial Tests later in September against Australia A. With India already needing two squads, one for Asian Games and another for India-West Indies series, there could well be some new faces who make the India A side.

East Zone vs South Zone - Duleep Trophy Final Preview

It has been a little shy of two years (713 days to be precise) since the last First-Class match played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here in Chennai.

East Zone: Ishan Kishan (c/wk), Abhijit Sarkar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Anukul Roy, Denish Das, Kounain Quraishi, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shikhar Mohan, Subhranshu Senapati, Sudip Gharami, Suraj Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Virat Singh.

South Zone:Tilak Varma (c), Abhinav Tejrana, Aman Khan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dineshan Nidheesh, Karun Nair, Kavuri Saiteja, Kodimela Himateja, Mohammed Siraj, Narayan Jagadeesan (wk), Ravichandran Smaran, Ricky Bhui, Shaik Rasheed, Shreyas Gopal, Tanay Thyagarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Vidwath Kaverappa.

A first look at the pitch

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A major boost for South Zone

It already boasted an impressive batting unit with Tilak Varma and R. Smaran, but South Zone lineup got even more formidable with the addition of Devdutt Padikkal. It was supposed to get KL Rahul too but the India opener will not feature in the final.

Then there is Mohammed Siraj to who joins the unit, setting up a perfect showdown with India teammate Mohammed Shami of East Zone.

Time for the title showdown!

Last year’s runner-up South Zone will have another shot at the Duleep Trophy title this time as it faces East Zone in the final.

East has been impressive through the two matches it has played, with almost every player stepping up when needed. East defeated North East in the quarterfinals before scraping past defending champion Central Zone to reach the final.

South started off straight from the semifinals where it bettered North Zone comprehensively.

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