Rajkot: Rohan S Kunnummal fell in his quest of a fourth successive hundred in as many innings but his opening partner Rahul P was going strong as Kerala reached 198/2 in reply to Madhya Pradesh's first innings total of 585/9 declared at stumps on day three of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match here on Saturday.
Rohan was trapped in front of the wicket by leggie Mihir Hirwani for 75 to break the 129-run stand. The 23-year-old right-hander hit eight fours in his 110-ball stint.
Rohan and Rahul (82 batting) added their second century stand in three matches. The two had put on 201 in their opening game against Meghalaya.
Rohan had become the first Kerala player to score three consecutive hundreds in the Ranji Trophy in their last match against Gujarat.
Rahul and Vathsal Govind added 53 for the second wicket. Anubhav Agarwal sent back for Vathsal for 15.
The 30-year-old Rahul is closing in on his third first-class hundred. Captain Sachin Baby (seven batting) was giving him company at the end of the penultimate day's play.
Earlier, a marathon 289 by opener Yash Dubey helped Madhya Pradesh declare their first innings on a mammoth 585/9.
Dubey's 591-ball knock contained 35 fours and two sixes. Off-spinner Jalaj Saxena claimed 6/116 for Kerala.
If the match ends in a draw, first innings lead or run quotient would decide which of the two teams advance to the quarterfinals.
Brief scores: MP 585/9 declared in 204.3 overs (Yash Dubey 289, Rajast Patidar 142; Jalaj Saxena 6/116) vs Kerala 198/2 in 63 overs (Rahul P 82 batting, Rohan S Kunnummal 75).