The Hrishikesh Kanitkar led Plate 'A' took a vital 92-run first innings lead against Elite 'A' but frittered away the advantage as their top order was rocked in the second innings by medium pacer Irfan Pathan (Jr), who grabbed four wickets for 46 runs.
When play ended on the penultimate day of the Duleep Trophy cricket match, in Chennai, Plate 'A' were 120 for six, with Tilak Naidu (26) and Sunil Joshi (20) at the crease.
Resuming at their overnight score of 170 for six, Elite 'A' were lifted by S.Sriram, who steadied the innings with a fine 119 (11x4), as they posted 281.
In the other match, medium pacer and debutant Amit Uniyal of Punjab bowled a career best 6 for 92 to help Elite 'B' achieve an 18-run first innings lead over Plate 'B'.
Replying to Elite 'B's first innings total of 350 all out, Plate 'B' could muster 322 thanks to a superb 95 by Srikumar Nair (131m, 150 b, 2x6 and 10x4).
However, Elite-B's opening batsman, Amit Pagnis stood his ground, making a strokeful unbeaten 84 (241m, 203b, 11x4) after his partner Wasim Jaffer was trapped leg before by Hirwani for 59. The two put on 116 runs for the first wicket.
Phagnis added 58 useful runs for the second wicket with Vinayak Mane (25) before Mane fell to Hirwani, stumped by Deshpande.
The rival captains were at a loss as they were unable to chalk-out plans for tomorrow, the last day of the match, as the BCCI has not yet made known the new points system to the staging units. Under the present rules, points are awarded for the team claiming first innings lead and bonus points given on achieving batting and bowling targets.