Hosts Madhya Pradesh are firmly in sight of an outright victory against Gujarat after reducing the visitirs to 133 for five in the second innings in a Ranji Trophy Group 'B' Elite division match on Wednesday.
Published: Nov 30, 2011, 09:27 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 30, 2011, 09:27 PM (IST)
Resuming at an overnight score of 51 for two, Madhya Pradesh could only manage 205 on day two © Getty Images
Indore: Nov 30, 2011
Hosts Madhya Pradesh are firmly in sight of an outright victory against Gujarat after reducing the visitirs to 133 for five in the second innings in a Ranji Trophy Group ‘B’ Elite division match on Wednesday.
Madhya Pradesh have already ensured three points having scored 205 in their first innings thereby getting a crucial 75-run first innings lead. Useful contributions from skipper Devendra Bundela (50) and lower-order batsman Taduri Sudhindra (51) helped MP get the first innings lead.
After shining with the bat, Sudhindra struck twice ( two for 27) to put MP in the driver’s seat, as Gujarat now only have 58-run lead with five wickets in hand.
On Tuesday, medium pacer Ishwar Pandey (six for 31) took a sensational six-wicket haul to bundle out Gujarat for a paltry 130 in their first innings.
Resuming at an overnight score of 51 for two, Madhya Pradesh could only manage 205 on Wednesday.
MP started on a poor note as overnight batsman Mohnish Mishra, unbeaten on 27, could add just six more runs to the team’s total before falling to Ishwar Chaudhary’s bowling.
Though another overnight batsman Bundela, resuming on 19, held his ground to score a patient 50 off 144 balls, including seven fours, Chaudhary (four for 84) quickly added two more wickets to his kitty dismissing Abbas Ali (0) and Harpreet Singh (7).
Right-arm medium pacer Mehul Patel (five for 54) playing only his second first-class match then wreaked havoc as he saw off Udit Birla (14), Ankit Sharma (0), Anand Rajan (0) and Bundela to left the hosts reeling at 117 for nine.
But just when it seemed that Gujarat would be able to manage a first innings lead, Sudhindra along with Pandey (not out 36) spoilt their party as the duo went on to add 88 runs for the final wicket.(PTI)
Brief scores: Gujarat 130 & 133 for 5 (Niraj Patel 39, Priyank Panchal 29; TP Sudhindra 2 for 27) vs Madhya Pradesh 205 (TP Sudhindra 51, Devendra Bundela 50; Mehul Patel (5 for 54, Ishwar Chaudhary 4 for 84)
