Kochi: A brilliant bowling performance by medium pacer Harbinder Sodhi (3 for 26) and leg spinner Narendra Hirwani (3 for 52) helped Madhya Pradesh bundle out Kerala for 156 runs in its first innings in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy plate division on Saturday. At draw of stumps on the opening day, Madhya Pradesh was 21 for no loss. Kerala would have been in deep trouble but for a 65-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Ajay Kudua 33 and Vipin Lal 28 not out. Earlier, Hemanthkumar 43 and Sreekumar Nair put on 49 runs for the fourth wicket after the side was tottering at 31for 3. Electing to bat, Kerala surrendered the initiative, losing wickets at regular intervals

Tags: cricket, kochi, brilliant bowling performance, medium pacer, leg spinner narendra hirwani, madhya pradesh, bundle out kerala, first innings, semi-finals, ranji trophy plate division, draw of stumps, p.