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Kale, Das score centuries

West Zone waltzed into the final of the Duleep Trophy cricket tournament by virtue of 345-run first innings lead ater their five-day semi-final against hosts East Zone ended in a tame draw at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta today.

West Zone, who resumed at the overnight score of 174 for one, declared their second innings at 260 for three before lunch.

East, batting for the second time, made 249 for 3, when captains of both the sides decided to call it a day after nine mandatory overs were bowled.

In the final, which will be played at the Eden Gardens from December 17, West meet North, who beat Central Zone in the other semi-final at Guwahati.

Having assured themselves a berth in the title clash, West went on batting merrily and added 86 runs to their overnight total, losing two more wickets in the process.

The highlight of the final day's play was a dazzling century by their top order batsman Abhijit Kale. Kale, who got out cheaply in the first innings, scored 105 before being adjudged lbw to Shiv Sunder Das. Kale was at the crease for 265 minutes, faced 215 deliveries and smacked 13 rollicking hits to the fence.

Opener Wasim Jaffer, who made 69 in the first innings, was indeed unlucky to miss his ton by six runs. Jaffar, after reaching 94, fell to the guile of East skipper Utpal Chatterjee and was bowled by a sharp turner from the latter.

Having already lost the tie, East played without any pressure and piled 249 for three wickets, with their opener Shiv Sunder Das scoring a century. Das scored 110 before he was caught by Amol Muzumdar off Nilesh Kulkarni.

His 110 came off 130 deliveries and included 18 fours. He was well supported by Nikhil Haldipur, who made 79.

UNI

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