Saxena, Kanwat keep Rajasthan in the hunt

Good knocks from Vinit Saxena and Rahul Kanwat helped Rajasthan to 285/3 on the third day of their Central Zone Ranji Trophy league tie against Madhya Pradesh at Gwalior. The first innings lead is still hanging very much in the balance but Rajasthan should fancy themselves since they trail by just 123 with seven wickets in hand.

Resuming at 57 without loss, the visitors lost an early wicket when National Cricket Academy product Anshu Jain was bowled by Sanjay Pandey for 21 in the third over of the day. Kanwat now joined Saxena and the two held a fairly decent Madhya Pradesh attack, including leg spinner Narendra Hirwani, left arm spinner Sunil Lahore and paceman Harvinder Sodhi, at bay for the next four and a quarter hours.

With the partnership worth 154, Kanwat was held by Nikhil Patwardhan off Abbas Ali for 81 (136 balls, 8 fours). Saxena's patient vigil ended at 256 when he offered a catch to the same fieldsman to give Pandey his second wicket. The opener fell nine runs short of his century. His 302 balls fetched just four boundaries. Skipper Gagan Khoda (31), batting down the order, and PK Krishnakumar (15) took Rajasthan safely through to stumps.