Defending champions North Zone defeated East Zone by a huge margin of 433 runs to enter the final of the Duleep Trophy in Rajkot on Thursday.

North secured five points and are leading the table with 10 points.

Resuming at their overnight 28 for 1, East Zone, which managed just 143 in their first essay, once again caved in against the disciplined bowling of VRV Singh and leg-spinner Amit Mishra and were bowled out for 243.

They were set an unlikely target of 677 to win the match after North Zone scored 360 and 459 for two in their two innings.

Only Anustup Mazumdar 82 and Manish Vardhan 83 put up some resistance.

The duo came together after departure of East Zone skipper SS Das (33) and raised hopes of a draw by adding 168 for the fourth wicket stand. 

But the departure of Mazumdar, who was run out, triggered a batting collapse as East Zone lost its last five wickets for the addition of just five runs.

Niranjan Behera did not bat in the second innings too duo to a sustained fracture.

VRV Singh who did not bowl on Wednesday because of fever, on Thursday returned with three for 46, while leg-spinner Amit Mishra took two for 37.