Rain denied Madhya Pradesh a win after it put defending champion Jammu and Kashmir on the ropes in their Ranji Trophy Group-A fixture at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium on Wednesday.

After the draw, M.P. took three points by virtue of its first-innings lead.

Shubham Sharma’s unbeaten 106 (200b, 7x4, 3x6) and a ruthless display by the pace attack, led by Avesh Khan, had put M.P. on course for all six points. But overnight rain delayed the start on the final day, and further showers threatened to thwart its bid for a win.

Auqib Nabi struck early to dismiss Atharva Mahajan, but J&K failed to build on the breakthrough. Wayward bowling and sloppy fielding allowed Shubham to settle in and dictate terms.

The M.P. captain added an unbroken 87-run stand with Saransh Jain, who made a brisk 35 (33b, 5x4). While Saransh attacked, Shubham rotated the strike before shifting gears against left-arm spinner Vanshaj Sharma, striking two sixes and a four to bring up his century.

M.P. declared at 249 for six, setting J&K a target of 326.

The chase fell apart almost immediately.

Avesh (three for 30) removed the out-of-form Shubham Khajuria off the fifth ball of his opening over, and Aryan Pandey (three for 31) bowled Shubham Pundir in the next. Avesh then dismissed Qamran Iqbal and Abdul Samad, while Aryan had captain Paras Dogra caught behind as J&K slumped to 12 for five.

Kanhaiya Wadhawan (27 n.o., 51b, 3x4) and Nasir Lone tried to steady the innings before a thumb injury forced Wadhawan to sit out.

When the weather brightened for the final half-hour, M.P. pushed desperately for a win, but Nabi (30 n.o., 32b, 4x4, 2x6) and Wadhawan, who came back to bat later, dug in to deny the visitor.

M.P. will rue a win lost to rain after leaving J&K reeling.

The scores: Madhya Pradesh — 1st innings: 196.

J&K — 1st innings: 120.

Madhya Pradesh — 2nd innings: Harsh Gawli c Iqbal b Nabi 11, Yash Dubey c Wadhawan b Sunil 22, Himanshu Mantri c Pundir b Nabi 0, Shubham Sharma (not out) 106, Chanchal Rathore c Samad b Sunil 8, Aryan Pandey c Pundir b Rohit 17, Atharva Mahajan c Samad b Nabi 39, Saransh Jain (not out) 35; Extras (lb-4, nb-7): 11; Total (for six wkts. in 80 overs decl.) 249.

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-30, 3-40, 4-56, 5-87, 6-162.

J&K bowling: Nabi 22-4-53-3, Sunil 25-5-56-2, Rohit 17-4-51-1, Vanshaj 6-0-35-0, Nasir 10-0-50-0.

J&K — 2nd innings: Qamran Iqbal c Mantri b Avesh 4, Shubham Khajuria c Mantri b Avesh 0, Shubham Pundir b Aryan 4, Paras Dogra c Mantri b Aryan 4, Abdul Samad lbw b Avesh 0, Kanhaiya Wadhawan (not out) 27, Nasir Lone lbw b Aryan 13, Vanshaj Sharma b Ravi Kiran 6, Auqib Nabi (not out) 30; Total (for seven wkts. in 34 overs) 88.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-6, 3-8, 4-12, 5-12, 6-51, 7-75.