Alur (Karnataka), Aug 12 (IANS): The final of the Safi Darashah All-India cricket tournament was finely poised with KSCA Secretary’s XI ahead by 288 runs with two wickets in hand against KSCA President’s XI at stumps on the third and penultimate day here Monday.

Overnight 297 for six, President’s XI eked out a 33-run first innings lead, but Secretary’s XI were 321 for eight in 82 overs after Kaunain Abbas struck a century (106, 192b, 8x4, 1x6) and was involved in two useful partnerships that propped up the innings.

Abbas and opener Mayank Agarwal (84, 112b, 6x4, 1x6) put on 95 runs for the third wicket. Latrer, in the company of Anirudha Joshi (64, 87b, 2x4, 3x6), Abbas added 132 runs for the fourth wicket to keep Secretary’s XI in the hunt.

Among the bowlers, left-arm spinners Syed Moinuddin (President’s XI) and Anil Inamdar (Secretary’s XI) came away with five wickets apiece.

Brief scores:
KSCA Secretary’s XI (1st innings) 322 all out and 321 for 8 in 82 overs (Mayank Agarwal 84, Kaunain Abbas 106, Anirudha Joshi 64, Ronit More 2-37, Syed Moinuddin 5-145) vs KSCA President’s XI (1st innings): 355 all out in 118.5 overs (Samarth Ravikumar 121, Shishir Bhavane 139, KC Avinash 30, J Suchith 3-96, Anil Inamdar 5-91).