Rajkot, Jan 27 (UNI) Central Zone skipper Mohammed Kaif's unbeaten 96 run and his sixth wicket undefeated partnership of 103 runs with M Rawat (40 not out) enabled the team, score 237 for five in their first essay in reply to West Zone's 411 on the second day of the four-day Duleep Trophy match at the Madhav Rao Scindia Ground, here today.

Captain Mohammed Kaif scored an unbeaten 96 in an innings that was the mainstay of the Central Zone's batting and a mixture of aggression and caution.

Wicket-keeper M Rawat showed the right amount of belligerence when it mattered most, while sharing an unbeaten 103 runs partnership with skipper Mohammed Kaif for the sixth wicket.

Central Zone, at one stage, were 134 for five when M Rawat joined the skipper. Both the batsmen played sensibly and only hit the loose deliveries to help the Central Zone get out of a tight situation in their first innings.

Mohammed Kaif ensured that Central Zone not only saw through the day but at the end had a score of 237 for five.

M Rawat hit seven boundaries in his unbeaten 40 while Kaif had hit twelve boundaries.

Central Zone started their innings on a dismal note, opener Vinit Saxena was out for individual two runs when teams score was 6. Munaf Patel took his wicket in fifth over with an outswinger which Parthiv Patel easily accepted behind the stumps.

Another opener Tanmay Srivastava also did not last long as seamer Sidharth Trivedi took his wicket at his individual score of 12 runs. He was caught by A Rahane when team's total was 49.

The only note of aggression was sounded by one down batsman Jalal Saxena, who hit a sparkling 46 runs in which he smashed nine fours in just 35 balls.

H Rawle and S Bangar were also went cheaply with their individual scores of 3 and 26 runs respectively. Munaf Patel and left arm spinner Rakesh Dhruve took their wickets.

MORE UNI AV RN RAR VC1950