Contest evenly balanced at Una

Una: The North Zone Ranji Trophy league match between Services and Himachal Pradesh at Una was evenly poised at the end of Day 2 at the Indira Gandhi stadium here yesterday. After Services was bowled out for 355 thanks to their tail being generously allowed to wag, Himachal's reply had reached 173-4 by the time stumps were drawn.

Services which resumed at 229-6 were reduced to 277-9 before an enterprising last wicket stand of 78 between S Kulkarni (29 not out off 51 balls) and SV Ghag (43 off 31 balls) took them to a fighting total. Shakti Singh finished with 4-89.After Himachal slipped to 43-2, marathon man Rajeev Nayyar (60 not out) and Satya Prakash (54) put on a 107 run third wicket partnership. But Services pulled back two late wickets to reassert themselves in the game. At close of play Nayyar was in the company of A Verma (0 not out).