Goa set to take first innings lead against J&K

Led by Swapnil Asnodkar's well compiled century, Goa were just 50 runs shy off Jammu and Kashmir's first innings total as they wrapped up the third day of their Group C Ranji trophy encounter in Porvorim, Goa with 288 for two.

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Starting the day at 48 for no loss, Asnodkar in company of Amogh Desai (85), raised 178 runs before J&K got their first breakthrough.

Desai was the first one to return to the hut, falling prey to off-spinner Parvez Rasool.

His loss, however, did not have much bearing on the hosts as Manvinder Bisla put the visiting bowlers to test, cracking seven hits to the fence and one over it during his unbeaten stay at the crease.

Asnodkar, meanwhile, was more subdued in his approach scoring 103 off 279 balls with the help of 10 boundaries.

The 28-year-old, finally fell to leg spinner Bandeep Singh, but not before adding 58 runs for the second wicket.

At the close of the day, Bisla was not out 74 while Sagun Kamat was giving him company at 13.

Brief scores:
Jammu and Kashmir 1st innings: 338 all out
Goa 1st innings: 288 for two in 119 overs (Swapnil Asnodkar 103, Amogh Desai 85; Bandeep Singh 43/1).

Jharkhand end day three on 56 for two; need 156 more to win

Hosts Jharkhand were 56 for two in their second innings, in pursuit of 213 for an outright win after bundling out Assam for 207 in their second essay at stumps on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group C match in Jamshedpur.

Chasing 213 for a win, Jharkhand lost Manish Vardhan (10) and Ishank Jaggi inside the first 20 runs before first innings half-centurion, Rameez Nemat (37 not out) and Saurabh Tiwary (8 not out) held fort.

But the remaining Jharkhand batsmen will have to bat out of their skin as they require another 157 runs on a fourth day pitch at the Kennan Stadium, which has already started assisting the spinners.

Earlier, resuming at an overnight score of 27 for two, Assam rode on half centuries from Amit Sinha (55) and Tarjinder Singh (53 not out) to go past the 200-run mark.

Jharkhand skipper Shahbaz Nadeem (4/83) and off-spinner Sunny Gupta (3/69) knocked the stuffing out of Assam batsmen, scalping four and three wickets, respectively.

Brief scores:
Assam: 179 & 207 all out in 74.5 overs (Amit Sinha 55, Tarjinder Singh 53 not out, Shahbaz Nadeem 4/83, Sunny Gupta 3/69).
Jharkhand Ist innings: 174 & 56 for two in 11.1 overs (Rameez Nemat 37 not out, Jamaluddin Syed Mohammad 1/12).

Prasanth, Watekar tons put Andhra on top against Tripura

Riding on centuries by openers Prasanth Kumar and Hemal Watekar, Andhra Pradesh posted 436 for eight declared to take a solid 176-run first innings lead over Tripura on the third and penultimate day of their Group C Ranji Trophy match in Anantapur.

Tripura were 21 for no loss at stumps with Subhrajit Roy and Samrat Singha on crease at 15 and six, respectively.

Having started the day on 154 for no loss, Andhra's openers -- Prasanth, who resumed on 80 not out and Watekar unbeaten on 57 -- went on hit tons each, besides sharing a 227-run partnership for the opening wicket.

Bodapati Sumanth (83) also made important contribution to the team's total.

Prasanth was the first one to depart after spending 407 minutes in the middle, scoring 119 off 263 balls. He hit 11 fours and a six.

When Watekar got out for 368-ball 116 with the help of nine boundaries and spending 505 at the crease, Andhra were already way past Tripura's first innings total of 260.

For Tripura, Tushar Saha was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 119, while Rana Dutta claimed two for 61.

Brief scores:
Tripura: 260 & 21 for no loss in 11 overs (Subhrajit Roy not out 15, Samrat Singha not out 6).
Andhra Pradesh: 436 for eight in 140 overs (Prasanth Kumar 119, Hemal Watekar 116, Bodapati Sumanth 83; Tushar Saha 3/119).

Dogra cracks double ton as HP take command against Services

Paras Dogra cracked a double ton as Himachal Pradesh scored 544 for six declared to take a massive first innings lead over Services on the third day of their Group C Ranji Trophy encounter in Naduan.

Himachal then reduced the visitors to 46 for two in their second essay when stumps were drawn. Pratik Desai (not out on 26) and Anshul Gupta, yet to open his account, were in the middle.

Starting the day at 252 for two, HP reached 540 plus runs before declaring the innings in response to Services' first innings total of 312.

The right-handed Dogra was well supported by Amit Kumar who missed a well-deserved century by just nine runs.

Hemanth Kumar was the first one to go without adding any runs to his overnight total of 29. However, his dismissal had little effect on the hosts as Dogra and Amit Kumar combined together to raise 110 for the fourth wicket before the latter fell to leg spinner Muzzaffaruddin Khalid.

Dogra (210) was the next one to go, but not before helping his team cross 500-run mark. His 334-ball stay at the crease was laced with 25 fours and one six.

Services, meanwhile, started their second innings positively raising 42 runs for the first wicket before Rishi Dhawan struck twice to dismiss Soomik Chaterjee and Shadab Nazar of successive deliveries to leave the visitors trailing by 186 runs with eight wickets in hand at the close of the day.

Brief Scores:
Services: 312 & 46 for two in 15 overs (Pratik Desai not out 26; Rishi Dhawan 25/2).
Himachal Pradesh 1st innings: 544 for six dec in 153 overs (Paras Dogra 210, Amit Kumar 91; Muzzaffaruddin Khalid 182/4).