Kerala made 213 for the loss of four wickets in reply to Punjab's first innings score of 541 at close of play, on the penulitmate day of of the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group A league match at Palakkad on Sunday.

Punjab declared their innings in the morning on the overnight score of 541 for 7.

Kerala made a shaky start to their first innings and lost two wickets before lunch for the addition of just 57 runs.

However, a 89 run fourth wicket partnership between Hemant Kumar and skipper Sunil Oasis took the team to a modest score of 213. Hemant Kumar departed on 61. his knock was  studded with four fours off 209 balls.

At close of play, Skipper Sunil Oasis with 50 and Sreekumar Nair 10 were at the crease.

Punjab's Vineet Sharma and Rajesh Sharma claimed two wickets each.

Brief scores:

Punjab 1st innings: 541 for 7 declared.

Kerala 1st innings: 213 for 4 (Hemant Kumar 61,  Sunil Oasis 50 no, Vineet Sharma 2/46, Rajesh Sharma 2/53).