Jharkhand to go for outright win vs Services

Jamshedpur, Dec 19 (UNI) Jharkhand piled up 361 all out to take 145 runs first innings' lead and restricted Services 101 for three in the second innings on the penultimate day of the four-day Ranji trophy plate group B match at the Keenan stadium here today.

At stump Jashbit Singh and first innings centurion Yashpal Singh were batting on 64 and naught respectively. Jashbir steadied the Services innings after loosing openers P M Reddy (7) and S Chatterjee (0) in quick succession. Jashbir hit ten fours in his unbeaten knock.

Jharkhand skipper and main strike bowler Sumit Panda showed an all round performance as he scalped two wickets after scoring highest 83 runs in the first innings to help his team post a big score.

Jharkhand resumed at overnight score 252 for seven with not out batsmen Panda (63) and Mihir Diwakar (30). The duo played sensibly to put valuable 101 runs in the eighth wicket stand. Panda, however, failed to reach three-figure mark. He hit nine fours and one six in his gritty knock. Mihir also completed his half century (50) with the help of six boundaries.

After dismissal of Panda and Diwakar, tailenders Sunny Gupta (26 N.O) and Shahid Khan (42) took the cue to add important 69 runs in the last wicket partnership.

For Services the spinners shured the honours as Arun Sharma, Yashpal Singh took four wickets each while A K Mahant got two wickets.

Brief score: Services (1st innings) 216 all out (Y Singh 103) Jharkhand (1st innings) 361 all out (S Panda 83, S Lal 54, M Diwakar 50, A Sharma 114/4, Y Singh 79/4, A Sharma 114/4) Services 2nd innings) 101 all out (J Singh 64 battings, S Panda 4/2) UNI BDG PC AY HT1912