Punjab take a big first-innings lead

Bowled out for 318, Punjab took a first-innings lead of 114 runs in their Ranji Trophy league match against Haryana at Gurgaon on Monday.

Ankur Kakkar, batting overnight on 81, fell just three runs short of a well-deserved century, becoming the eighth wicket to fall. His departure hastened the end of the Punjab innings, which only lasted five overs more.

Haryana, beginning their second innings badly with the fall of one opener early, then consolidated to some extent. The middle-order batsmen, although able to get a start, could not take it further, and the side found themselves on 173/6 at the close of play on Day Three, with skipper Parender Sharma (21*) and S Vidyut (23*) at the crease.