Khurasiya's second century saves MP's bacon

A brilliant stonewalling effort from Harvinder Singh Sodhi and Amay Khurasiya helped Madhya Pradesh salvage a draw against Railways on the final day of their Central Zone Ranji Trophy clash at the Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi today. Khurasiya's second century of the match was the undoubted highlight, the India discard adding an unbeaten 118 to his first innings effort of 105.

Railways enforced the follow-on as expected this morning after establishing a first innings lead of 242 yesterday. In the 17th over of the innings Murali Kartik struck by bowling opener Jai Prakash Yadav for 12 with the score at 20. That was to be the lone success for Railways on an otherwise frustrating day.

Sodhi and Khurasiya batted through the remaining 70 overs as MP finished the day on 189/1. Sodhi's 50 (253 balls, 6 fours) lasted five and three quarter hours while Khurasiya's 262 minute effort was rather more enterprising, coming off 216 balls and including 12 fours and 2 sixes. Railways picked up five points and MP three from the drawn encounter.