Bengal 307 for 4 (Majumdar 120, Gharami 112, Agarwal 2-21) vs Madhya Pradesh

With Bengal slipping from 51 for no loss to 51 for 2, MP had the early advantage. However, the new batters Gharami and Majumdar turned the tide of the innings, frustrating the hosts through lunch, through tea and right up to the drinks break in the day's final session.

Majumdar, the 38-year-old veteran, struck 13 fours and a six in his 120 while Gharami, the 23-year-old right-hand batter, hit 12 fours and two sixes in his 112. Both of them survived a dropped chance apiece, but they were largely fluent in their strokeplay. Gharami often went inside out over the off side to the spinners, while Majumdar offered stability during the early stages of their partnership before dominating the proceedings in the afternoon session. That allowed Bengal to move to lunch at 111 for 2, and by tea they reached 213 for 2.

It looked like the pair would finish unbeaten at the end of the day, more so with MP's attack finding it difficult to breach their stand, but the new ball brought some respectability to MP's bowling effort. Avesh Khan struck in the 83rd over when he got a full ball to angle away from Majumdar and rattle the stumps. In the next over, Gharami was trapped lbw by Agarwal, and it was the second time in the day that Bengal had lost both set batters in succession.

MP tried to sneak in another wicket before stumps; however, it wasn't to be. No. 5 Manoj Tiwary (5*) and No. 6 Shahbaz Ahmed (6*) saw through the day, taking Bengal past 300 with six wickets still in hand.