At stumps, however, Services were themselves struggling at 77 for three © Getty Images (Representational Image)
New Delhi: Services bowlers led by Diwesh Pathania bundled out Hyderabad for 272 to give their team a healthy 81-run first innings lead on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group C cricket tie on Tuesday. At stumps, however, Services were themselves struggling at 77 for three. But they have managed to extend their overall lead by 158 runs. Replying to Services’ first innings score of 353, Hyderabad today resumed on 144 for no loss with the openers Tanmay Agarwal, on overnight 47, and Akshath Reddy, on 89, completing their respective half-century and hundred each. UPDATES: Services vs Hyderabad, Ranji Trophy 2015-16, Group C match, Day 3 at Palam A Ground, Delhi
While Reddy hit a 261-ball 125 studded with 21 fours, Agarwal’s 50 came off 184 deliveries. The duo also put on a crucial 151-run stand for the opening wicket to lay a solid platform for the visitors. But the openers’ dismissal triggered a collapse and the last six wickets fell for just 62 runs. For Services, Pathania chipped in with figures of three for 63, while Raushan Raj (2/65) and Muzzaffaruddin Khalid (2/43) took two wickets each. In their second essay, Hyderabad got off to a poor start, losing three early wickets.
From where it stands now, Hyderabad are primed to take the first innings lead and if they maintain the way they have performed with the bat on Day Two, they can expect to have a lead big enough to enforce an innings victory. Services innings was wrapped up for a modest 353 and in response Hyderabad put 143 runs on the board without loss of a single wicket.
Brief scores:
Services 353 & 77 for three (Ravi Kiran 2 for 33) lead Hyderabad 272 (Akshath Reddy 125, Tanmay Agarwal 50; Diwesh Pathania 3 for 63) by 158 runs.