Hosts Saurashtra gained a vital 21-run first innings lead over Madhya Pradesh and then scored 159 runs for three wickets in their second essay, on the third day of the five-day Ranji Trophy Plate group semi-final, at the Madhavrao Scindia ground in Rajkot on Friday.
Saurashtra openers Kanaiya Waghela and Sagar Jogiyani treated the Madhya Pradesh attack with disdain and scored at will. They put on 127 runs for the first wicket before the former was bowled by spinner Y Golwankar for 54, which was inclusive of 11 hits to the fence.
Sagar Jogiyani hammered 80 runs before he edged to wicketkeeper N Oza off medium pacer T Sudhndra. His innings contained 14 fours and one mighty six while facing 146 balls.
At close of play, Prashant Joshi was batting on nine while Kamlesh Makwana was yet to open his account.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh resumed their first innings at the overnight score of 191 for five and were all out for 275 shortly before lunch.
S Maniar and S Jobanputra were the pick of Saurashtra's bowlers, taking five and three wickets for 94 and 58 runs respectively.
Yesterday, A Khuresia had hammered 80 runs while other noteable contributions for the visitors came from captain Abas Ali and M Mishra, scoring 40 and 49 runs respectively.
Brief scores:
Saurashtra (1st innings): 296 all out.
Madhya Pradesh (1st innings): 275 all out (A Khuresia 80, Abas Ali 40, M Mishra 49; S Jobanputra 3/56, S Maniar 5/94).
Saurashtra (2nd innings): 159 for 3 in 64 overs (Kanaiya Waghela 54, Sagar Jogiyani 80; T Sudhindra 1/27, Y Gowalkar 2/31).