Needing to score 187 runs today after reaching 48 for two at stumps yesterday, Central suffered another blow in the morning when Ashish Mehra struck again, taking the wicket of Yogesh Ghare at his overnight score of eight.

The next partnership, between Khoda and Mohd Kaif, stedied the innings adding 65 runs. Kaif struck a fine half century before Pradeep Jain uprooted the off-stump at his personal score of 51, which included eight fours.

Khoda then had another fruitiful partnership of 76 runs with Devender Bundela (39 not out). The skipper looked like completing a well-deserved century when a slower delivery from Ashish Mehra trapped him in front of the wicket.

He hit a towering six off Pradeep Jain and 11 boundaries. At the fall of the captain's wicket, Manoj Mugdal (23 not out) joined Bundela, who hit the winning runs.

Scoreboard
North (1st Innings): 113.

Central (1st Innings): 346 for 9 decl.

North (2nd Innings): 467

Central (2nd Innings): S Bangar lbw Nehra 0; J Yadav c Dharmani b Nehra 5; Yogesh Ghare c Dahiya b Nehra 8; Mohd Kaif b P Jain 51; Gagan Khoda lbw Nehra 81; Devendra Bundela not out 39; Manoj Mugdal not out 23; Extras (nb 21, lb 5, b 5): 31; Total (for 5 wkts): 238Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-17, 3-50, 4-115, 5-191Bowling: Nehra 25-4-74-4, Vineet Jain 13-4-39-0, Pradeep Jain 16-4-46-1, Sehwag 18-0-57-0, Dani 3-1-5-0, Nayyar 1-0-2-0, Dharmani 0.2-0-5-0.