Haryana have J&K in a corner

Haryana were in a position of considerable strength at stumps on the second day of their North Zone Cooch Behar Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir at the MA stadium in Jammu on Monday. After being in arrears by 218 runs on the first innings, J&K were 31 for two in their second innings at close.

Resuming at 61 for no loss, Haryana declared at 346 for seven. Manvinder Bisla (45) left early but the other opener Bhuvnesh Sharma and captain Ishan Ganda added 114 runs for the second wicket off 31 overs. Sharma was then out for 78. He faced 137 balls and hit 12 fours. Sumeet Sharma (13) did not last very long but Ganda and Deepak Joon compounded J&K's agony by some fine strokeplay. Ganda reached his century but retired hurt when his score was 101. He faced 186 balls and hit 12 of them to the ropes. Joon's 40 was compiled off 70 balls and Amit Mishra contributed a valuable 28 inclusive of two fours and a six.

In J&K's second innings, opening bowler Nitin Aggarwal dismissed Mudassar Ashraf and Vimarash Kaw in the space of three deliveries for ducks, leaving the home team an uphill task to stave off defeat on the final day.