India, Sept. 9 -- Ishan Kishan was dismissed within touching distance of another hundred in the second innings as East Zone moved one day close to winning their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday. At stumps on the fourth day of the final, East Zone were 212/5 in their second innings, a staggering 584 runs ahead of South Zone.

Kishan had begun the match with a magnificent 270 in East Zone's imposing 708 and, after South Zone were dismissed for 336, returned to the middle with the prospect of another substantial hundred. He made 80 from 98 balls, striking nine fours and three sixes, and for a while appeared intent on doing exactly that.

The early part of the innings, however, belonged to...