A defiant 160 by Central Zone skipper Mohd Kaif could not help his side to take all important first inning lead over West Zone in Duleep Trophy as the former were bundled out at 384, 27 runs short of West Zone 411.
Resuming at their overnight 237 for 5, the Central Zone skipper tried hard to decrease deficit of first inning lead despite of lossing his overnight partner Mahesh Rawat at teams total reading 268 for 6.
Rawat spent 192 minutes at the crease and faced 152 balls with eight fours. Kaif, who completed his hard working century by hitting 13 fours off 190 balls, got useful support from SS Sanyal (31).
The two added 51 runs for seventh wicket and created hopes for Cental Zone to take first inning lead. But Sanyal was sent back by West Zone must succesful bowler Rakesh Dhruv.
Kaif who hang around the wicket and faced bravely to rival bowlers was ninth man to be dismissed, his departure poured cold water over Central Zone's hopes for first inning lead.
Kaif made 160, spent 461 minutes at the crease and faced 316 balls with 19 fours. For West Zone, Left arem leg spinner Rakesh Dhruv was the most succesful bowler taking four wickets conceding 84 runs, while Munaf Patel claimed three for 90.
West Zone, who enjoyed to have 27 runs thin but valuable lead started its second inning confidently as both the openers Sahil Kukreja (40) and Ajinkya Rahane (53) scored 99 runs for unseprated first wicket association.
West Zone stretched its overall lead to 125 and set to secure three points for first inning lead.
