Rajan six wickets sets up a thriller

Madhya Pradesh 242 and 18 for 3 need 113 runs to beat J&K 281 and 91 (Anand Rajan 6-45)
Scorecard

Eighteen wickets fell as the momentum swung back and forth on a dramatic third day's play between Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh in Jammu. Having resumed on 159 for 5, MP were bowled out for 242, yielding a 39-run first-innings lead. But Anand Rajan, the medium-pacer, got MP right back into the game with a career-best figures of 6 for 45 as J&K were bundled out for 91. There was to be one more twist in the day, though. Set 131 to win, MP lost three quick wickets, including that of the first-innings top-scorer Devendra Bundela for a first-ball duck, to end the day needing another 113 runs to win.

Services 325 for 5 (Israni 115, Tahir Khan 100) trail Kerala 566 for 6 dec by 241 runs
Scorecard

Devendra Israni and Tahir Khan struck their maiden first-class centuries to propel Services to 325 for 5 against Kerala at Fort Maidan in Palakkad. But Services were still 241 runs in arrears and will have to play out of their skin to earn a first-innings lead. Israni and Khan shared a 197-run stand for the second wicket but Services lost their way towards the end of the day, when five wickets fell for only 99 runs. it was only because of Jasvir Singh's unbeaten 56 that Services were still afloat.

Railways 291 for 5 (Rawle 102, Rawat 83*) trail Goa 535 for 9 by 244 runs runs
Scorecard

Harshad Rawle cracked his maiden first-class ton while Mahesh Rawat approached his fourth to keep Railways in the game against Goa. However, like Services, Railways might find the going tough as they still trail by 244 runs. Having resumed on 31 for 2, they lost a wicket early but Rawle's 87-run partnership with Sanjib Samyal and a subsequent 132-run stand with Rawat bailed them out of trouble. But Harshad Gadekar, who took 3 for 40, removed Rawle to push Railways on the back foot at 266 for 5. Rawat soldiered on, finishing on an unbeaten 83, to carry on the fight to the final day.

Tripura 116 and 154 for 4 (Manoj 73) trail Gujarat 470 for 6 dec by 200 runs runs
Scorecard

At Motera, Tripura were staring at an innings defeat against Gujarat, who declared after extending their first-innings lead to 354 before snaring four quick wickets to take control. Bhavik Thaker, overnight on 102, moved on to 154 as Gujarat added 90 runs in 20 overs before declaring. Tripura started off well, courtesy a 68-run opening stand, but Ashraf Makda, the left-arm mediumpacer, got into the act with three wickets. Manoj Singh made 73 but he was the only batsman to touch 25 as Gujarat reached a near-impregnable position by the end of the day.

Haryana 273 and 286 for 6 (Beerala 75) lead Jharkhand 205 by 354 runs
Scorecard

Haryana restricted Jharkhand to 205 before stretching the overall lead to 354, with four wickets intact by the end of the third day's play in Jamshedpur. Sachin Rana, the medium-pacer, removed both the overnight batsmen - Sunny Gupta and Shabhaz Nadeem - to give Haryana a 68-run first-innings lead. Then the top order fired - three batsmen managed fifties with Mithun Beerala top scoring with 75 - and Haryana finished the day on 286 for 6.

Assam 65 for 2 v Vidarbha
Scorecard

No play was possible for the second day running between Assam and Vidarbha at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati. Heavy rains ruled out possibility of play on day two and three after most of day one had been washed out. Assam batted for 29 overs to get to 65 for 2 before play was called off before lunch on the first day.