Madhya Pradesh were leading by 134 runs in the first innings at stumps on the pen-ultimate day of the fifth round match in Mumbai. Naman Ojha (155) and Devendra Bundela (115) watchfully propelled the visitors to a first innings lead earlier on the third day at the Wankhede Stadium. The pair extended their overnight partnership to 259 to take the team within reach of Mumbai’s 404-run first innings score. The MP captain then secured the lead after Ojha’s departure ensuring his team three points before returning to the pavilion. At the end of day’s play MP were 538/7 with Ankit Sharma (35*) and Puneet Datey (16*) in the middle. Earlier, resuming the MP innings on 221/3, overnight batsmen - Ojha and Devendra patiently batted to seize the advantage from the hosts. The wicketkeeper batsman and the visitors’ captain kept the Mumbai bowlers at bay and added 91 runs in the first session. Ojha who was batting on 60 when play resumed in the morning reached his century eight minutes before lunch with three runs to mid-off, off Javed Khan. The pair took MP to lunch at 312/3 to tip the balance in their favour. With an eye on Mumbai’s first innings score they diligently continued to add to the total in an effort to secure a minimum of three points. Bundela brought up his hundred in the second session as the partnership continued to flourish as they inched towards the hosts’ total. However, with the team on 389, it ended with Ojha’s departure. After doing the hard yards to push Mumbai on the back foot, he edged Javed Khan to the slips and Suryakumar Yadav standing wide of first slip took the catch to send him back. Bundela carried the innings forward and took the team past Mumbai’s total before returning to the dressing room. With two runs off Iqbal Abdullah, the experienced campaigner took MP to 405, 20 minutes before tea. But in the spinner’s next over, Bundela holed out long-off and departed for 115. Harpreet Bhatia and Shubham Sharma then took the team to Tea at 417/5. 32 runs after tea, Shubham Sharma was sent back by Abdullah and was replaced by Ankit Sharma in the middle. With Bhatia the lower-order batsman kept chipping at the Mumbai attack until Siddhesh Lad claimed the former for 67 to end the stand. Puneet Datey then made his way to the middle and saw the team through to the end of day’s play with Ankit. Brief scores: End of Day 1: Mumbai 1st inn 375/4 in 87 overs (S Yadav 135, A Herwadkar 97, P Datey 2/62) End of Day 2: Mumbai 1st inn 404 all out in 103 overs (S Lad 73, Y Rawat 5/74); MP 1st inn 221/3 in 72 overs (J Saxena 85, N Ojha 60*) End of Day 3: MP 1st inn 538/7 in 162 overs (N Ojha 155, D Bundela 115, H Bhatia 67, Iqbal Abdullah 3/123)