After gaining a 128-run first innings lead by skittling Punjab out for 105, Hyderabad were 147 for six on the second day of the Elite 'B' Ranji Trophy match with skipper VVS Laxman scoring a fine unbeaten 59 at the Gymkhana grounds in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Resuming at 25 for 3, in reply to hosts' 233, Punjab batsmen were rattled by speedsters NP Singh, Vishnuvardhan and Kaushik Reddy who dismissed the visitors for 105 to give Hyderabad the crucial lead.
Only Ankur Kakkar showed some defiance as he stayed at the wicket for over 203 minutes to score 48 runs off 130 balls with six fours. The pick of the bowlers was debutant Kaushik Reddy who claimed 3 wickets for 29 runs in 12 overs.
The Hyderabad second innings started on a shaky note as their top four batsmen were sent back with the score reading 54 before Laxman steadied the innings.
Laxman's 59 came off 78 balls and giving him company at the crease was Vishnuvardhan (12).
The hosts now have an overall lead of 275 runs with four wickets in hand and two days' play left in this penultimate league match.
Scorecard
Hyderabad 1st Innings: 233
Punjab 1st Innings: (overnight 25 for 3):
R Ricky c Anirudh b N P Singh 2
R S Sodhi lbw Vishnuvardhan 0
Binwant Singh c Khaleel b Vishnuvardhan 11
Pankaj Dharmani lbw Vishnuvardhan 3
Ankur Kakkar c Khaleel b Kaushik Reddy 48
Gaurav Gupta c Laxman b N P Singh 3
Munish Sharma c Laxman b Kaushik Reddy 4
Amit Uniyal b Dainel Manohar 6
Gagandeep Singh c Laxman b Daniel Manohar 0
V R V Singh c Khaleel b Kaushik Reddy 12
Lovesh Abhilsh not out 1
Extras: (b 5, lb 2, nb 8) 15
Total: (All out in 51 overs) 105
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-2, 3-7, 4-41, 5-57, 6-66, 7-85, 8-87, 9-103
Bowling: Narenderpal Singh 17-7-27-2, Vishnuvardhan 18-9-29-3, Kaushik Reddy 12-4-29-3, Daniel Manohar 4-2-13-2.
Hyderabad 2nd Innings:
Anirudh Singh c Dharmani b Amit Uniyal 19
S Daniel Manohar c Dharmani b V R V Singh 11
D Vinay Kumar c Dharmani b Gagandeep Singh 4
A T Rayudu lbw V R V Singh 17
V V S Laxman batting 59
N S Arjun Yadav c Binwant b Gagandeep Singh 11
Irabhim Khaleel b Amit Uniyal 9
Vishnuvardhan batting 12
Extras: (b 3, w 1, nb 1) 5
Total: (For 6 wkts in 48.2 overs) 147
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-31, 3-54, 4-54, 5-90, 6-107
Bowling: Gagandeep Singh 17-4-40-2, V R V Singh 12.2-2-39-2, R S Sodhi 8-2-18-0, Amit Uniyal 10-0-43-2, Love Abhilash 1-0-4-0.