Ranji Trophy: MP reach 234-3 in reply to UP's 686-7decl in Ranji

Moradabad: Aditya Shrivastava (99) and Naman Ojha (88) shared a 157-run partnership to help Madhya Pradesh reach 234 for 3 in their first innings in reply to Uttar Pradesh's 686 for seven declared on the third day of their Group B Ranji Trophy match here today.

Shrivastava's innings was studded with 13 fours as he is just one run short of a century, while Ojha blasted eight boundaries and three sixes at the Teerthanker Mahaveer University Ground.

At the draw of stumps, Shrivastava was at the crease with Madhya Pradesh still trailing by 452 runs with seven wickets remaining in their first innings.

Ankit Rajpoot picked up two wickets for Uttar Pradesh, while Kuldeep Yadav snapped one.

Resuming at an overnight score of 656 for 5, MP added 30 runs for the loss of two wickets in Eklavya Dwivedi (32) and Praveen Kumar (16), before declaring their first innings.

In reply, MP recovered from a wobbly start to end the day at a respectable score. Opener Jalaj S Saxena (11) was dismissed in the sixth over which reduced MP to 12 for one in 5.5 overs.

But Shrivastava and first down batsman Udit Birla (32) stitched a valuable 65-run partnership before the latter was trapped infront of wicket by Rajdoot in the 38th over.

After that, Shrivastava and Ojha took the team to safety before the wicket-keeper batsman lost his wicket to Yadav in the last ball of the day.

Brief Score:

Uttar Pradesh 1st innings: 686 for 7 declared in 185.1 overs.

Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: 234 for 3 in 81.5 overs (A Shrivastava 99; A Rajdoot 2/43).