Bengal looked set to take the first-innings lead as they restricted Madhya Pradesh to 363 for eight in their Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match here today.
Replying to Bengal's first-innings total of 475 for nine declared, Madhya Pradesh trailed by 112 runs with two wickets remaining at stumps on the third day.
Doing the trick for Bengal was Sayan Ghosh, who picked up four wickets with his medium pace bowling, at the Palam A Ground Model Sports Complex.
Madhya Pradesh, though, still remained in the game owing to Ankit Sharma and Ishwar Pandey's highest first-class scores - the duo put on 121 for the eighth wicket.
Rajat Patidar made a fine 86 off 107 balls, with the help of 15 boundaries and two sixes.
MP's overnight pair of Mukul Raghav and Patidar extended their partnership to 84, having come together after seamer Ashok Dinda had struck on the first ball on the second evening.
However, they lost six wickets for 82 runs from that point, and were reduced to 166 for seven, thanks largely to medium-pacer Ghosh, who took four of those wickets.
Ankit then scored an unbeaten 90, while Ishwar Pandey was dismissed after contributing a brisk 63 off 55 balls, hitting six boundaries and three sixes.
Later, Ankit shared an unbroken 76-run stand with Naman Ojha (40 batting).
Ankit struck seven fours and three sixes during his 131-ball knock and could hold the key to MP's fortunes on the final day.
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