Punjab gained two points for their first innings lead in the Ranji Trophy match against Kerala, which ended in a draw in Palakkad on Monday.

Kerala, resuming their first innings on the overnight score of 213 for 4, made 344.

Skipper Sunil Oasis, the overnight unbeaten batsman scored 82 (7x4), while Sreekumar Nair remained unbeaten on 37.

After Oasis fell, no Kerala batsman, except Ajay Kuduva (53) survived. Tight bowling by Punjab saw the rest of the  batsmen being skittled out for the addition of just 10 runs.

Skipper Dinesh Mongia was the most successful Punjab bowler, claiming four wickets for 34 runs, while Vineet Sharma and Rajesh Sharma took three wickets each.

Following-on, Kerala scored 131 for the loss of two wickets in their second innings. C M Deepak (37) and Sujith Somasunder (39) were the batsmen out.

Vipinlal (36) and Hemant Kumar were at the crease when play was called off at the end of the eighth mandatory over.

Scoreboard

Punjab (1st Innings): 541-7 decl.

Kerala (1st Innings):
C Deepak c Dharmani b Sharma 9
S Somasunder lbw Sharma 27
V Lal c Ricky b Sharma 26
H Kumar b V Sharma 61
S Oasis b Mongia 82
S Kumar Nair c Sharma b Mongia 37
A Kuduva c Madaan b Sharma 53
A Athapadmanabhan lbw Mongia 0
S Kumar c Madaan b Mongia 8
T Yohannan c Madaan b Sharma 1
J Grand Bell not out 1

Extras: (b-10, lb-6, wb-5, nb-18) 39

Total: (all out, 143.2 overs) 344

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-57, 3-104, 4-193, 5-276, 6-280, 7-286, 8-298, 9-299

Bowling: Vineet 30.2-8-70-3, Uriyal 13-4-30-0, Rajesh 50-13-106-3, Sodhi 3-1-6-0, Navdeep 14-2-34-0, Mongia 19-9-34-4, Sawal 14-1-48-0.

Kerala (2nd Innings):
C Deepak c Mongia b Navdeep 37
S Somasunder c Dharmani b Sawal 39
Vipinlal not out 36
Hemant Kumar not out 15

Extras: (b-3, nb-1) 4

Total: (for two wickets, 49 overs) 131

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-89

Bowling: Mongia 3-2-4-0, Uriyal 5-0-16-0; Vineet 1-0-4-0, Navdeep 21-6-57-1, Sawal 18-7-38-1, Samrat 1-0-9-0.