India, Aug. 30 -- The Duleep Trophy reaches its business end here on Sunday with defending champions Central Zone taking on an East Zone side brimming with confidence, while last year's runners-up South Zone face North Zone.

The last-four stage promises an intriguing contest, with East and North having negotiated the quarterfinal hurdle while Central and South received direct entry.

East Zone recorded a crushing victory over North East Zone in their quarterfinal, while North Zone scraped through a tense knockout thanks largely to left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq. Central, led by Rajat Patidar for the second successive season, and South, last year's runner-up, will have to hit the ground running despite not having played a game in the tourn...