Bengaluru, Aug. 31 -- The quarterfinal fixture of the ongoing Duleep Trophy between North Zone and East Zone ended in a draw on Sunday, with North Zone making it to the semifinals on the basis of their massive first-innings lead.

Led by Ayush Badoni's unbeaten 204*, North Zone batters continued to pile misery on East Zone bowlers on the final day of the Duleep Trophy encounter, the result for which was obvious heading into Day 5.

Resuming Saturday's play on 388 for 2, with a mammoth 563-run lead in hand, North Zone decided to bat on till the end and accept a draw after piling on 658 for 4 in the second innings. Ankit Kumar, who had resumed his innings on 168, was only two runs away from scoring his first first-class double century when ...