MP take charge

RAJNANDGAON, Feb 16: Vadodara failed to exploit the advantage that was being offered by the pitch. They succumbed to pressure unnecessarily ...

RAJNANDGAON, Feb 16: Vadodara failed to exploit the advantage that was being offered by the pitch. They succumbed to pressure unnecessarily and now face an imminent follow-on against Madhya Pradesh in the Group C8217; tie of Ranji Super League here at the Digvijay stadium today.

Chasing MP8217;s mammoth 596, the visitors were struggling at 302 with the last wicket in hand and one more day8217;s play to go. Ashish Tandon 6 and Y Wakaskar 4 have a tough task on hand on the morrow.

Off-spinner Rajesh Chauhan stuck the first blow in the morning, breaking a 104-run opening wicket stand between M Kadri and C Williams. Williams 43 was caught behind by Kirti Patel.

Leggie Narendra Hirwani removed Kadri 56 in the next 10 minutes, while Chauhan claimed Satyajit Parab 8.

International Nayan Mongia and left-hander Atul Bedade came to the Vadodara8217;s rescue.

In the following 100 minutes the pair added 114 runs for the fourth wicket. Bedade, in the process, entertained the huge crowd with 10 fours and three mightysixes. He could not move on further.

Chauhan, after teasing him for long, clean-bowled the Vadodara main-stay. Five more wickets were claimed by Madhya Pradesh in the dying minutes of the day.

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Chauhan 4 for 107 and Sunil Lahore 3 for 46 along with Hirwani 1 for 107 shared 86 overs today. Tomorrow is the last day.

SCOREBOARD

MADHYA PRADESH first innings: 596 for 8 decl.

VADODARA first innings: Overnight 48 without loss M Kadri c J P Yadav b Hirwani 56, Connor Williams c Patel b Chauhan 43, N Mongia c Pandit b Sunil Lahore 60, S Parab c J P Yadav b Chauhan 8, Atul Bedade b Chauhan 81, T Arothe c Patel b Chauhan 4, R A Swaroop b S Pandey 12, Kiran More b Lahore 8, V Buch c J P Yadav b Lahore 7, A Tandon batting 6, Y Wakaskar batting 4; Extras: b7, nb6 13; Total: for nine wickets 302.Fall of wickets: 1-104, 2-108, 3-129, 4-243, 5-254, 6-273, 7-278, 8-287, 9-294.Bowling: S Pandey 9-1-26-1, Devendra Bundela 2-0-13-0, Narendra Hirwani 40-12-107-1,Rajesh Chauhan 39-10-103-4, Sunil Lahore 22-5-46-3.