Young seamer Alfred Absolem's wrecked Punjab with a seven-wicket haul to put Hyderabad in a strong position on the opening day of the four-day Super League Group 'B' Ranji Trophy match in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Absolem's strikes bundled out the visitors for 142 runs in their first innings after which the hosts scored 145 for 4.
Barring opener Ravnit Ricky, who scored a patient 41, the strong Punjab batting line-up went for a toss with Absolem rattling the team with his teasing line and length.
It was a good toss for Hyderabad skipper VVS Laxman, who elected to field. The early morning dew helped the home team, as Absolem picked seven wickets in a row to reduce Punjab to 106 for 7.
Openers Ricky and Karan Goel (21) gathered 51 runs without any damage. But the entry of Absolem spelled doom as Goel nicked the ball into the hands of Ibrahim Khaleel.
The young bowler then accounted for Ricky, Dinesh Mongia (2), Pankaj Dharmani (13), Gaurav Gupta (1), Ritender Singh Sodhi (11), Uday Kaul (4) and Harbhajan Singh (0) in a space of 51 runs.
Some rear guard action by Gagandeep Singh (22) enabled the visitors reach 142. VRV Singh (4) and L Ablish (7) were sent to pavilion by Pragyan Ojha and MP Arjun.
Hyderabad started their innings on a shaky note with T Suman (4) and P Shashank Nag (8) falling prey to Gagandeep Singh.
Skipper VVS Laxman and his deputy Anirudh Singh added 59 runs for the third wicket before the latter was caught behind for 33 off Sodhi. Laxman (batting 44) was at the crease at the draw of stumps after Hyderabad lost Arjun Yadav (40) in the last over of the day.
Scorecard
Punjab 1st innings
R Reddy lbw b Absolem 41
K Goel c Khaleel b Absolem 21
D Mongia c Khaleel b Absolem 2
P Dharmani c Khaleel b Reddy 13
G Gupta c Suman b Absolem 1
R S Sodhi b Absolem 11
U Kaul lbw b Absolem 4
Harbhajan Singh c Laxman b Absolem 0
Gagandeep Singh (not out) 22
V R V Singh b Ojha 4
L Ablish b Arjun 7
Extras (b-1, lb-2, nb-13) 16
Total (all out in 31.3 overs) 142
Fall of Wickets: 1-51, 2-59, 3-76, 4-79, 5-92, 6-96, 7-106, 8-117, 9-128, 10-142
Bowling: P Reddy 7-0-43-1, M Arjun 11.3-2-57-1, A Absolem 12-4-35-7, P Ojha 1-0-4-1.
Hyderabad 1st innings
T Suman lbw b Gagandeep Singh 4
P Shashank Nag c Harbhajan Singh b Gagandeep Singh 8
Anirudh Singh c Dharmani b Sodhi 33
VVS Laxman not out 44
A Yadav c Kaul b Singh 40
Extras (lb 4, w 1, nb 11) 16
Total (4 wickets; 43.5 overs) 145
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-21, 3-60, 4-145
Bowling: Gagandeep Singh 12 2 39 2, L Ablish 11 3 22 0, VRV Singh 10.5 1 47 1, Harbhajan Singh 6 0 25 0, RS Sodhi 4 0 8 1