Madhya Pradesh were 198 for seven at stumps on the opening day of their Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match against Baroda, here today.
Electing to bat, Madhya Pradesh witnessed a horrendous start to their innings as both their openers -- Aditya Srivastava and Jalaj Saxena returned to the pavilion in quick succession without troubling the scorers.
Thereafter, Rajat Patidar (60) and captain Devendra Bundela (39) shared a 73-run stand for the third wicket to stabilise the innings.
But once Bundela and Patidar departed, the onus was on Harpreet Singh (51) to take Madhya Pradesh foward and he took up the inititiave in the right spirit by making a fifty before being dismissed.
At stumps, wicket-keeper Ankit Dane was unbeaten on 30 and giving him company was Mihir Hirwani (4), son of former India leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani.
Lef-arm orthodox spinner Swapnil Singh (2/30) and pacer Atit Sheth (2/33) picked up two wickets apiece for Baroda.
Brief Scores:
Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: 198 for seven in 90 overs (Rajat Patodar 60, Harpreet Singh 51; Swapnil Singh 2/30).
