Ranji Trophy: Gujarat on verge of taking 1st innings lead against MP

Surat: Gujarat closed in on securing an innings lead by reducing Madhya Pradesh to 187 for 7 on the second day of their Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match here on Monday.

Starting the day at 252 for 6, Gujarat rode on a handy half-century from Axar Patel (55) and a 38 from Rush Kalaria.

Jalaj Saxena took three wickets while Puneet Datey and Ankit Kushwah chipped in with two each, but Gujarat still managed a healthy first-innings total of 311.

In reply, Madhya Pradesh lost wickets at regular intervals right from the start. A lot of batsmen made starts, but only Naman Ojha (56) could muster a fifty.

The visitors are now left with a massive task in hand to get back into the match.

Brief Scores:

Gujarat 1st innings: 311 all out in 106.1 overs (Manpreet Juneja 61, Rujul Bhatt 51, Axar Patel 55; Jalaj Saxena 3/56)

Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: 187 for 7 in 71 overs (Naman Ojha 56; R P Singh 2/51).