West Zone secured three vital points by virtue of their first innings lead over Central Zone in the four-day Duleep Trophy cricket match which ended in draw at the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground here on Tuesday.

West Zone had amassed 411 in their first innings and then bowled out Central Zone for 384 to take a thin but valuable 27-run lead.

In their second essay, West Zone, resuming at their overnight score of 99 without loss, scrored 335 for seven wickets off 109 overs.

Both captains agreed to end the match before the start of mandatory overs.

Ajinkya Rahane 89 (202b, 15X4) and Parthiv Patel 74 (113b, 11X4) were the leading contributors in West Zone's second innings.  Ramesh Powar (47) and Sandeep Jobanputra (40) remained unbeaten when the match ended.

For Central, medium pacer Sumit Mathur was the most successful bowler taking five wickets for 63 runs in 21 overs.

scoreboard

WEST ZONE (I Innings): 411     

CENTRAL ZONE (I Innings): 384

WEST ZONE (II Innings, O/n: 36/0): S Kukreja c Kaif b Mathur 40, A Rahane lbw Sanyal 89, P Patel c Sanyal b Mathur 74, C Pujara c Saxena b Mathur 11, R Solanki c Rawat b Mathur 6, Y Pathan (run out ) 9, R (Powar) not out 47, R Dhurv lbw Mathur 1, S Jobanputra (not out) 40. Extras (B-5, LB-3, W-2, NB-8) 18. Total (for 7 wkts decl) 335.
Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-197, 3-218, 4-231, 5-241, 6-242, 7-248.
Bowling: Sanjay Bangar 28-6-89-0, Sanjeev Sanyal 22-2-68-1, M urali Kartik 26-7-62-0, S Mathur 21-2-63-5, J Saxena 10-0-40-0, H Rawle 2-0-5-0.
Points: West Zone: 3; Central Zone: 1.