Sourav Ganguly [Images] led a Bengal fightback with a fine hundred, as the hosts remained in contention for a crucial first innings lead on the third and penultimate day of their Elite Division Group 'A' Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at Kolkata on Sunday.

Bengal finished the day at 294 for six, needing 99 more runs to overhaul the visitors' first innings score of 392 and take a vital two points to avoid demotion to the Plate division.

Resuming at the overnight score of 70 for four, the Bengal batting was built around a classy 121 (321m, 213b, 17x4) by the Indian captain and his 167-run partnership (243m, 219b) for the sixth wicket with Devang Gandhi (77 not out; 291m, 180b, 12x4) at the Eden Gardens.

Bengal's hopes now rest on Gandhi and all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla (9 not out) and the first session may prove crucial tomorrow in deciding the course of the match, rated as a virtual relegation play-off.

Overnight not out batsmen Ganguly and Sourasish Lahiri added another 36 runs on the board in the first 45 minutes of play in the morning before Sunil Dholpure dealt the first blow by shattering Lahiri's stump to dismiss him for 10.

Ganguly and Devang Gandhi then joined hands and carried Bengal past tea, with the former executing some delectable strokes and the latter content to play second fiddle.

Ganguly completed his century in 277 minutes facing 173 balls.

Ganguly's glorious knock came to an end when he played across the line to a straight delivery from pacer Sanjay Pandey, missed and lost his off-stump.

Scoreboard:

Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: 392

Bengal 1st innings:
A Das c Ojha b Pandey 4
D Dasgupta b Pandey  13
S Das b Golwalkar 8
R Gavaskar c S Dholpure b Golwalkar 38
S Ganguly b Pandey  121
S Lahiri b S Dholpure 10
D Gandhi not out 77
L R Shukla not out 9

Extras (lb:4, nb:7, w:3)    14

Total (for 6 wickets in 101.4 overs)  294

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-18, 3-55, 4-70, 5-106, 6-273.

Bowling: S Pandey 27-5-83-3, Sunil Dholpure 25.4-8-67-1, Devendra Bundela 11-5-10-0, Yogesh Golwalkar 22-5-77-2, J Likhar 12-1-41-0, S Abbas Ali 4-0-12-0.