Kishan, who had toyed with the part-time bowlers and spinners, raised his arms in celebration after reaching his double century with a boundary through the covers off Devdutt Padikkal. — Internet

CHENNAI: It was one-way traffic on day two of the Duleep Trophy final with East Zone tightening their grip on the contest on the back of a monumental double century from skipper Ishan Kishan.

Kishan’s stroke-filled 270, coupled with a sixth first-class century from Kumar Kushagra, propelled East to a mammoth 708 before they were bowled out off the final ball of the day. It is East Zone’s highest-ever total in Duleep Trophy history, eclipsing the score they posted against West Zone in 1986.

South Zone now have three full days to overhaul the daunting total, but the task is formidable, with the red-soil surface likely to break down and offer sharp turn as the game progresses.

In hot and humid conditions, South bowlers were made to toil for six sessions and 163 overs. East showed no inclination to declare as they batted deep into the day and frustrated their opponents. Kishan, who had toyed with the part-time bowlers and spinners, raised his arms in celebration after reaching his double century with a boundary through the covers off Devdutt Padikkal.

Kishan, who had retired on 250 just before tea, returned after Shreyas Gopal bowled Mohammed Shami to reduce East to 680 for seven. He added another 20 runs before finally falling for 270 off 334 balls. His dismissal was the result of a superb effort from R. Smaran at long-on. Kishan, looking to hit the ball straighter, failed to get enough elevation, and Smaran sprinted to his right to complete an excellent catch on the move.

South eventually claimed four wickets in the final session, conceding 82 runs in the process, but the damage had already been done. Kishan and Kushagra, both from Jharkhand, put together an impressive 230-run stand off 290 balls for the fifth wicket. Kushagra was dismissed immediately after reaching his sixth first-class hundred, while Kishan then combined with Anukul Roy for a 140-run sixth-wicket partnership. It was the third century partnership of the innings.

South bowlers endured a miserable day. Three of them conceded more than 100 runs, with Mohammed Siraj leaking 140 runs in 25 wicketless overs, Tripurana Vijay conceding 180 in 42 overs while taking four wickets, and Shreyas Gopal giving away 165 in 42 overs for two wickets.

At tea, East were 626 for six after 134.1 overs, having added 135 runs for the loss of just one wicket during a frenetic middle session that produced a run-rate of 5.16 an over. The morning session had been no less productive. East went to lunch at 491 for five, adding 106 runs in 29 overs for the loss of a single wicket.

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