Press Trust of India
Mumbai, Feb 3: Madhya Pradesh recovered from the loss of two cheap wickets to advance to 254 for four at stumps on the first day of their five-day Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Bengal at the Brabourne Stadium here Wednesday.
Half centuries from opener Aditya Shrivastava (65), Naman Ojha (64) and No. 6 Harpreet Singh Bhatia (51 batting) and an unconquered 42 from experienced campaigner and skipper Devendra Bundela pulled the MP innings around from 39 for two.
A century partnership of 102 for the third wicket between Shrivastava and Ojha steadied the innings and then an unbeaten stand of 92 between Bundela and Bhatia consolidated MP’s position after they were asked to bat first by Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary on a track with a tinge of green on it.
MP lost in-form prolific opener Jalaj Saxena in the fourth over and then lost Rajat Patidar in the 21st over before recovering through the century partnership between Shrivastava and Ojha. The partnership was finally broken by India discard Pragyan Ojha who had Shrivastava caught at short mid-wicket by a diving Shreevats Goswami.
Ojha departed 10 overs later by stretching out defensively to Veerpratap Singh and edging the medium pacer to Tiwary in the slips.
Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh 254 for 4 (Aditya Shrivastava 65, Naman Ojha 64) versus Bengal. Match to continue.
