Ranji Trophy: Services take first-innings lead over Hyderabad

Services are themselves struggling at 77 for three at stumps.

New Delhi: Services bowlers led by Diwesh Pathania bundled out Hyderabad for 272 to give their team a healthy 81-run first innings lead on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group C cricket tie here.

At stumps, however, Services were themselves struggling at 77 for three. But they have managed to extend their overall lead by 158 runs.

Replying to Services' first innings score of 353, Hyderabad resumed on 144 for no loss with the openers Tanmay Agarwal, on overnight 47, and Akshath Reddy, on 89, completing their respective half-century and hundred each.

While Reddy hit a 261-ball 125 studded with 21 fours, Agarwal's 50 came off 184 deliveries. The duo also put on a crucial 151-run stand for the opening wicket to lay a solid platform for the visitors.

But the openers' dismissal triggered a collapse and the last six wickets fell for just 62 runs.

For Services, Pathania chipped in with figures of three for 63, while Raushan Raj (2/65) and Muzzaffaruddin Khalid (2/43) took two wickets each.

In their second essay, Hyderabad got off to a poor start, losing three early wickets.

Brief scores:

Services: 353 & 77 for three (Ravi Kiran 2/33).

Hyderabad 1st innings: 272 (Akshath Reddy 125, Tanmay Agarwal 50; Diwesh Pathania 3/63).