Dubhashi, Jakati help Goa gain first-innings lead

A 160-run seventh wicket stand between Samar Dubhashi (97) and Shadab Jakati (92) helped Goa put up 270 in their first innings and gain a 72-run lead over Chhattisgarh after they were reduced to 70 for 6 on the second day.

The pair had already added 57 when the day began, with Goa on 127 for 6 in reply to Chhattisgarh's 198. They batted out the first session without being separated to give their team the lead. Jakati, the dominant partner, hit nine fours and two sixes in his 92 before falling to the part-time offspin of Sahil Gupta. Wicketkeeper Dubhashi played a more sedate 97 off 283 balls and was the last batsman out, three short of his maiden century, when he was bowled by Pankaj Rao (4 for 95).

In reply, Chhattisgarh were reduced to 7 for 2 in the third over, before Sahil's unbeaten 50, and captain Mohammad Kaif's unbeaten 38 - his highest score this season - took them to 95 for 2 at stumps.

Jammu and Kashmir rode on half-centuries from Ian Dev Singh (99), Shubham Khajuria (86) and Parvez Rasool (68) to end the third day on 337 for 4 in their second innings against Himachal Pradesh in Ranchi.

J&K had ended the second day on 39 for no loss after conceding a first-innings lead of 208. Their opening pair of Shubham Khajuria and Umar Nazir brought up the 50 of the stand, before being separated within the first three overs of the day. That brought Ian Dev and Khajuria together, and the pair added 155 for the second wicket. It was their second consecutive stand of more than 150 this season.

Left-arm spinner Bipul Sharma removed Khajuria with the score on 205. Ian Dev ensured his team knocked off the deficit, before Bipul struck again, having Ian Dev caught, one short of his 14th first-class century.

Rasool's 68 off 72 balls helped J&K accelerate towards the end of the day, and go into stumps with a 129-run lead.

Kerala built on their strong start against Haryana to secure a 101-run first-innings lead in Jaipur. Kerala resumed the day on 170 for 1 in reply to Haryana's 303. They started patiently, scoring only 45 off 30 overs in the first session, for the loss of Rohan Prem (64).

Haryana fought back with quick strikes after lunch, dismissing Bhavin Thakkar, the other overnight batsman, for 79, and Sanju Samson within five overs after the break as Kerala slipped from 203 for 1 to 220 for 4. But Sachin Baby scored 52 and added 46 with N Surendran (28) for the fifth wicket, and 65 with Iqbal Abdulla for the sixth to take them past Haryana's score. Abdulla then added useful runs with the tail, and scored 61 himself to help stretch Kerala's score to 404 for 9, before they declared.

Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal took four wickets each for Haryana, who ended the day on 6 for no loss, trailing by 95 runs.

It was another slow day at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, where Andhra responded to Services' 446 with 177 for 1 in 79 overs.

Andhra opener Prasanth Kumar scored an unbeaten 90 off 236 balls. He put on 80 for the opening wicket with KS Bharat (42), and 97 for the second wicket - 35 with captain Hanuma Vihari who retired hurt on 18, and 62 with KR Sreekanth, who was unbeaten on 24 at stumps.

The day began with Services resuming on 400 for 8. Rahul Singh, unbeaten on 95 overnight, completed his second first-class century, and was unbeaten on 127 when Services folded for 446, having batted out 188.5 overs. CV Stephen (3 for 87) and DB Ravi Teja (3 for 25) took the two Services wickets to fall on the day.