Himachal rout Kerala inside four sessions

In what was the eighth two-day finish in this season's Ranji Trophy, Himachal Pradesh picked up a six-wicket win over Kerala in their fixture in Malappuram, ending Kerala's chances of a knockout spot.

Trailing by 60 runs, Kerala suffered a batting meltdown and were bundled out for 83 early on day two with left-arm spinner, Bipul Sharma claiming 6 for 33 in 10.2 overs. Rishi Dhawan, Karanveer Singh and Rahul Singh picked up a wicket apiece, as none of Kerala's batsmen managed to score more than 20.

Himachal were set only 24 to win but stuttered when left-arm spinner Karaparambil Monish picked up four wickets - he claimed three wickets on the first, third and sixth ball of the fourth over - without conceding a run. The four-wicket haul put Monish on top of the wicket-taking chart of the Ranji Trophy this season. Himachal Pradesh, however, sealed the victory in the fifth over of the innings.

Jharkhand 366 for 6 (Tiwary 190*, Kaushal 54, Milind 3-65) lead Hyderabad 145 by 221 runs
Scorecard

Saurabh Tiwary's unbeaten 190 marshalled Jharkhand to a massive first-innings lead of 221 runs with four wickets in hand against Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. After bowling out the hosts for 145 on the first day, Jharkhand finished the second day on 366 for 6.

Continuing from 31 for 1, Jharkhand lost overnight batsmen Shiv Gautam (14) and Anand Singh (5) within five overs, leaving them on 48 for 3, as Chama Milind took the first three wickets. That brought together Tiwary and Ishank Jaggi who put on a crucial stand of 117 runs in under 20 overs to take them past 150. Jaggi missed his fifty by two runs, before Kaushal Singh assisted Tiwary with a patient fifty to help them towards 300. Their sixth-wicket stand yielded 131 runs before Kaushal fell for 54 and Tiwary ended the day with 24 fours and four sixes to put Jharkhand on top with his 15th first-class hundred.

Tripura 45 for 1 (Arindam 20*, Udiyan 11*) trail Services 512 (Paliwal 203, Lochab 95, Dutta 4-104, Saha 3-98) by 467 runs
Scorecard

Services piled on a massive score of 512 on the back of Rajat Paliwal's maiden double-hundred against Tripura in Agartala. Paliwal's 203 was assisted by Devender Lochab's career-best 95, as the two stretched their sixth-wicket stand to 239 runs, before Tripura ended the day on 45 for 1, trailing by 467 runs.

On 282 for 5 overnight, Paliwal continued from 147 and Lochab carried from 31 to help them towards 400. Paliwal fell for a brisk 203 off 266 deliveries with 26 fours and three sixes, and Lochab was caught behind 13 runs later with the score on 410 for 7. Muzzaffaruddin Khalid (32), Raushan Raj (32) and Diwesh Pathania (25) chipped in with useful lower-order scores to accumulate some more runs as Services were eventually bowled out in 136.3 overs. Rana Dutta finished with 4 for 104 and Tushar Saha picked up three wickets.

Tripura lost Virag Awate for 14 as Arindam Das and Udiyan Bose remained unbeaten with the team's large deficit.

Saurashtra 491 for 9 (Jackson 121, Unadkat 91*, Vyas 53) lead Jammu & Kashmir 138 by 353 runs
Scorecard

After Himachal Pradesh topped the table, Saurashtra made their case to eventually lead the table by taking a massive first-innings lead against Jammu & Kashmir by ending the second day on 491 for 9 in Jammu, in reply to the hosts' 138.

Saurashtra were led by Sheldon Jackson's century and fifties from Samarth Vyas and Jaydev Unadkat. Jackson's 121 took them past 250 after two wickets fell in front of him, and Vyas' brisk 53 off 69 gave the lower order some confidence. Saurashtra were then 378 for 9 and the last-wicket stand between Unadkat (91*) and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (38*) frustrated the hosts further.