Both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh's bowlers gave their teams a chance to win the match, but on a spinning track the batsmen of both sides did not captalise. The match is now set up for an exciting finish.
After taking a 14 runs first innings lead, Rajasthan were bundled out for 81 runs by Madhya Pradesh, in their second innings. Madhya Pradesh thus set themselves a victory target of 96 runs. At the end of the second day's play Rajasthan came back strongly by taking four top-order batsmen of Madhya Pradesh by close of play. Now Madhya Pradesh need 46 runs to win with 6 wickets in hand, with the last day's play remaining.
Earlier Madhya Pradesh resumed their 2nd innings from their overnight score of 67 runs for 3 wickets, and were all out for 136 runs, due to some fine spin bowling from Rajasthan captain Anup Dave and Lokesh Jain. Each took four wickets. In reply Rajasthan were out cheaply for 81 in their second innings. Madhya Pradesh's Abhishek Johar took 6 wickets for 32 runs. Madhya Pradesh began their second innings very casually and added 27 runs for the first wicket, but lost three quick wickets in the space of 13.1 overs.
The remaining 46 runs for the win will not come easily for Madhya Pradesh on this spinning track. If Rajasthan bowl and field well, they could still win this cruicial match.
Day 3 Reports
As expected Madhya Pradesh played better cricket in every department and easily beat Rajasthan by five wickets with two full sessions left on the final day.
Resuming from an overnight score of 50 for 4, Madhya Pradesh lost the early wicket of Yogendra Panchal who was brilliantly run out by substitue fielder Ashan Ali from midwicket at the score of 58 runs. But Mohsin Hassan and Arif Mohammad added an unbroken 38-run, sixth wicket partnership to see Madhya Pradesh safely home.
Madhya Pradesh get 8 points while Rajasthan get nothing. Rajasthan have 3 points from 2 matches and look likely to miss the knock-out phase.