Khoda gets the better of Hirwani in grim battle

Rajasthan snatched the vital first innings lead on the final day of their Central Zone Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at Gwalior on Thursday. Indian ODI discard and skipper of the visiting Rajasthan team, Gagan Khoda, rose to the occasion with a priceless century. Chasing Madhya Pradesh's formidable 408, Rajasthan overhauled the hosts for the loss of just six wickets, settling finally at 449. In the fifteen overs that remained, MP scored 24 without loss in 43 minutes of desultory batting. The draw gave Rajasthan five points and Madhya Pradesh three.

Resuming at 285/3, overnight batsmen Khoda and PK Krishnakumar extended their fourth wicket association to 121 before the latter was dismissed by left arm spinner Sunil Lahore for 56 (155 balls, 4 fours). Leg spinner Narendra Hirwani now burst into a sudden frenzy of activity after having gone wicketless thus far. Although unable to prevent Rajasthan from gaining the lead, he had the belated satisfaction of scalping the last six wickets, including that of Khoda who was eighth out for 112 (271 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes). Hirwani finished with 6/90 in 37.3 overs. Madhya Pradesh skipper Chandrakant Pandit blamed the setback on his bowlers who conceded a staggering 48 noballs in the innings, more than the margin of the first innings lead.