Ranji: MP-Bengal match ends in draw

Gwalior, Nov 13 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh earned 3 points by virtue of a first-innings lead as a four-day Ranji Trophy Plate Group 'B' encounter against Bengal ended in a tame draw today at Captain Roop Singh stadium here.

Chasing a victory target of 160 after Bengal were bowled out for 227 in their second innings, the hosts' tumbled like ninepins as they lost six wickets with the scoreboard reading a precarious 63/6 when the umpires called off the match 10 overs before schedule due to poor light.

Himalay Sagar (30) was the sole batsman for Madhya Pradesh who crossed the single-figure mark.

For the visitors, medium-pacer Ranadeb Bose took two wickets while Ashok Dinda, Ritam Kundu and Manoj Tiwari scalped a batsman each.

Earlier resuming at the overnight score of 126/4, Abhik Chowdhury (overnight 45 not out) and Bardhaman Shah (50 n o) consolidated the innings. While Chowdhury scored 60 aided by 5 boundaries, Shah played beautifully to score a compact 83 with the help of nine hits to the fence.

With a fine bowling spell, Madhya Pradesh's Shantanu Pitre claimed 5 wickets while giving away 50 runs while Sanjay Pande scalped 3 off 30.

Brief scores: Bengal (1st innings) 210 all out (2nd innings) 227 all out Madhya Pradesh (1st innings) 278 (2nd innings) 63/6 UNI XC-BDG AC 2047