EZ vs SZ Live Score, Day 5, Duleep Trophy 2026 Final: Anukul Roy Reaches Fifty; Md Kounain Quraishi Approaching Century

The Duleep Trophy 2026 final has produced a fascinating contest between East Zone and South Zone, with both teams fighting for the prestigious domestic title. East Zone entered the final with a strong batting line-up and made the most of their opportunity after winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Their innings was dominated by a sensational double century from captain Ishan Kishan, while several other batters also made important contributions. Among those contributions were Anukul Roy and Md Kounain Quraishi, who helped East Zone push their total beyond the 700-run mark. Anukul Roy Makes Valuable Contribution Anukul Roy played a composed innings for East Zone and added important runs during the latter stages of their first innings. The all-rounder showed patience against a South Zone bowling attack that had already spent a considerable amount of time on the field. Roy eventually scored 45 runs from 98 deliveries, including four boundaries. His partnership with Ishan Kishan was particularly important as East Zone continued to build an enormous total. Roy's ability to occupy the crease gave Kishan the freedom to attack at the other end. Quraishi Frustrates South Zone Md Kounain Quraishi also played a crucial role in East Zone's huge first-innings score. The lower-order batter spent 91 balls at the crease and scored 40 runs, including two fours and a six. Quraishi's resistance meant South Zone were unable to finish off the East Zone innings quickly. Together with the other lower-order batters, he ensured that East Zone continued collecting runs even after South Zone had dismissed several of their major batting threats. Ishan Kishan's Mammoth 270 The biggest highlight of East Zone's innings was undoubtedly Ishan Kishan's extraordinary 270. The East Zone captain batted for 334 balls and struck 30 fours and seven sixes. His marathon innings laid the foundation for East Zone's enormous total and put South Zone under immense pressure from the outset. Kishan's double century was one of the defining performances of the Duleep Trophy final and helped East Zone establish complete control during the opening stages of the match. Kumar Kushagra Adds a Century Kumar Kushagra also played a major role for East Zone. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 101 and added a massive partnership with Kishan. The pair's contribution ensured that South Zone were forced to spend long periods in the field and allowed East Zone to establish a commanding position. Kushagra's century further strengthened East Zone's batting dominance. East Zone Reach 708 East Zone eventually finished their first innings on a mammoth 708. The total included contributions from Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shikhar Mohan, Ishan Kishan, Kumar Kushagra, Anukul Roy, Quraishi and Mohammed Shami. The sheer size of the total meant South Zone faced an enormous challenge when they came out to bat. South Zone Fight Back Through Tilak Varma South Zone's response was led by captain Tilak Varma. The left-hander produced a determined innings while wickets fell around him. Varma eventually scored 99, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century. Devdutt Padikkal also contributed 62, but South Zone could not match East Zone's batting effort and were eventually dismissed for 336. East Zone Hold the Advantage South Zone's 336 left East Zone with a massive first-innings advantage. East Zone were therefore in a commanding position and had several options available to them as the final progressed. The huge lead was the result of their exceptional batting performance, with Kishan's 270 and Kushagra's 101 setting up the innings before the lower order extended the advantage. Why Anukul Roy and Quraishi Were Important While the headline numbers belonged to Kishan and Kushagra, the contributions from Roy and Quraishi were equally valuable in the context of the innings. Once the main batters had done the bulk of the scoring, South Zone needed to clean up the remaining wickets quickly. Roy and Quraishi prevented that from happening. Their ability to stay at the crease allowed East Zone to move closer to and eventually beyond the 700-run mark. South Zone's Bowling Challenge South Zone's bowlers had a difficult time throughout the East Zone innings. Tripurana Vijay was their leading wicket-taker and finished with four wickets, but East Zone's batting depth made it difficult for South Zone to stop the scoring. Shreyas Gopal also bowled a large number of overs, while the other bowlers were forced to work hard in hot conditions. The extended innings eventually tested South Zone's physical and tactical resources. Duleep Trophy Final Reaches Decisive Stage The final has showcased several impressive individual performances. Kishan's 270 was the standout effort, while Kushagra's century and contributions from Easwaran, Shikhar Mohan, Roy and Quraishi ensured East Zone maintained control. South Zone, meanwhile, had to rely heavily on their captain Tilak Varma, who fell just one run short of a century. The match has therefore provided plenty of talking points for domestic cricket followers. What to Watch in the Live Score As the Duleep Trophy final progresses, the key focus remains on the scoreline, wickets and the possibility of a result. East Zone's enormous first-innings total has put them in a strong position, but South Zone will continue to fight until the final session. For East Zone, the objective will be to use their advantage intelligently and put enough pressure on South Zone to force a result. For South Zone, the challenge will be to extend their resistance and keep the final alive. East Zone Aim to Finish Strong East Zone's performance throughout the final has demonstrated the depth of their squad. Their top order produced major scores, while their lower order refused to surrender easy wickets. Anukul Roy and Md Kounain Quraishi were important examples of that resilience. With the final reaching its decisive stage, East Zone will hope their huge first-innings effort ultimately translates into Duleep Trophy glory.