By IANS
Chasing a mammoth 677 for victory, East started on a positive note with both Manish Vardhan and Anustup Majumdar scoring gritty half-centuries. The match looked to be heading for a draw as they approached tea when East were 238 for 3, but a run out just before the break triggered a dramatic collapse and six wickets fell for five runs.
With no chance of winning, East began the day on 28 for 1, but were soon reduced to 70 for 3. However, Vardhan and Majumdar stonewalled North’s attack for 40 overs to raise hopes of a draw.
The match, however, took a dramatic turn when Vardhan failed to beat a direct hit by substitute fielder Joginder Sharma. Majumdar made 82. Thereafter, East’s lower middle-order collapsed like a pack of cards.
First-innings hero Vikram Raj Vir Singh and leg-spinner Amit Mishra ran through the lower order claiming two and three wickets respectively. Leg-spinner Mishra picked up the crucial wicket of Vardhan (83).
North will now take on West Zone at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Feb 19-23.
Earlier, Delhi opener Chopra’s unbeaten 205 helped North pile up 459 in their second innings and set a mammoth target of 677 before East.
Brief Scores: North Zone 360 (Mithun Manhas 88, Shiv Shankar Paul 5/106) & 459/2 decl (Mithun Manhas 205, Akash Chopra 205*, Debashish Mohanty 1/41); East Zone 143 (Wriddhiman Saha 56, V.R.V. Singh 5/59) & 243 (Manish Vardhan 83, Anustup Majumdar 82, V.R.V. Singh 3/46, Amit Mishra 2/37)