Dogra 209* extends Himachal's dominance

Paras Dogra's unbeaten 209 helped Himachal Pradesh declare on an imposing 561 for 5 against Tripura in Dharamsala. The visitors ended the day at 88 for 3 and have to score another 188 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Himachal began strongly, with centuries from their openers and Dogra helping them capitalise on their strong overnight score of 259 for 3. Dogra had support from Robin Bist (58) and Nikhil Gangta (55) with whom he added century stands for the fourth and fifth wickets. Dogra's 209 came off 242 balls and included 23 fours and six sixes.

After Himachal declared, offspinner Ankush Bedi made early inroads into Tripura's batting, picking up three wickets, including that of captain Kaushal Acharjee.

Four wickets each from medium-pacers Rohit Sharma and Zahoor Sofi limited Hyderabad to 280 and allowed Jammu & Kashmir to enforce a follow-on in their match in Uppal. The hosts finished the day at 122 for 2, trailing J&K by 58 runs.

Despite fifties from Tanmay Agarwal and B Anirudh, Hyderabad were hurt by wickets falling in clumps, especially after substantial partnerships. While Rohit Sharma and Umar Nazir accounted for the top order, Sofi cleaned up the tail, picking three wickets in the last over of the innings, including the dismissal of Chama Milind who added 43 important runs with Anirudh for the eighth wicket.

J&K struck early after enforcing the follow-on but Hanuma Vihari and Danny Prince then rebuilt for the side, sharing an unbroken 109-run stand for the third wicket. Prince was unbeaten on 56 off 108 deliveries, while Vihari went in at stumps four runs short of a half-century.

Centuries from Yashpal Singh and Rajat Paliwal helped Services build a 301-run lead by close of play on the third day against Saurashtra in Palam. His knock of 103 was Paliwal's second of the game, while Yashpal's 115 not out came in the batsman's 100th first-class match.

The pair also shared a 187-run stand that steadied Services after the top order was dismissed by the 21st over. Paliwal, who made 121 in the first innings, was dismissed for 103 off 189 deliveries and Saurashtra then fought back with quick wickets to leave the hosts at 311 for 6 at close of play. Yashpal was unbeaten, having faced 149 deliveries for his 115, which also included 17 fours and a six.

Jharkhand legspinner Samar Quadri's 6 for 97 limited Goa to 302 on the third day of their Group C match in Jamshedpur. Goa, however, clawed back with four wickets, leaving the home side at a shaky 159 for 4 in their battle for first-innings points going into the fourth day.

Goa lost overnight batsman Swapnil Asnodkar and Snehal Kauthankar early on the third morning before being revived by a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Rituraj Singh and Darshan Misal.The lower order tried to rally once that partnership was broken but Quadri and left-arm spinner and Jharkhand captain Shahbaz Nadeem ran through the rest of the line-up to bring an end to the innings.

In response, Sumit Kumar and Shiv Gautam shared a 64-run partnership for the second wicket after opener Prakash Munda was dismissed for only 2. Shadab Jakati, however, struck with three quick wickets to push Jharkhand from 60 for 1 to 106 for 4. Gautam and Kumar Deobrat then steadied the innings, playing out the day with a 53-run partnership.