Sudip Gharami continued his excellent form from last domestic season, scoring a stylish 146 to help East Zone reach 355 for 6 against North East Zone on the opening day of their Duleep Trophy match on Sunday. Gharami was well supported by Shahbaz Ahmed, who remained unbeaten on 100, as the pair shared a crucial 150-run partnership for the sixth wicket after East Zone had slipped to 138 for 5.

Shaky start for East Zone

East Zone had a shaky start after North East Zone opted to bowl. Young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's red-ball struggles continued as he lasted only six balls, dismissed for eight by Bishworjit Konthoujam. Abhimanyu Easwaran also fell cheaply for 15, caught by Pheiroijam Jotin, leaving East Zone two down for 25.

Kumar Kushagra then joined Gharami and the duo added 92 runs for the third wicket. Kushagra looked comfortable, scoring 55 off 65 balls with nine boundaries. His dismissal triggered another mini-collapse, with Ishan Kishan and Virat Singh also departing in quick succession, leaving East Zone reeling at 138 for 5.

Gharami and Shahbaz lead the fightback

That brought Shahbaz to the crease, and he and Gharami steadied the innings with a commanding partnership. Gharami, who scored 795 runs last season and finished fourth among the leading run-scorers, attacked deliveries on his legs while also finding gaps on the off-side. His 185-ball innings featured 25 fours and a six, marking his ninth first-class century.

Gharami was eventually dismissed LBW by Jotin Singh for 146, but not before he had put East Zone in a position of strength. Shahbaz matched Gharami's impact with an unbeaten century, facing 137 balls and striking nine fours and two sixes. After Gharami's departure, Shahbaz continued his assault alongside Anukul Roy, with the pair adding another 67 runs.

The inexperienced North East bowling attack struggled to contain the experienced batters, allowing East Zone to move into a commanding position. At stumps, East Zone had reached 355 for 6 from 80 overs, with Shahbaz unbeaten on 100. Jotin Singh was North East's most successful bowler, finishing with 3 for 53.

Brief scores: East Zone 355/6 (Sudip Gharami 146, Shahbaz Ahmed 100*; Pheiroijam Jotin 3-53) vs North East Zone.