*Haryana defeat J&K by an innings and 118 runs

The possibility of an innings victory over Jammu and Kashmir was converted into a reality by Haryana's bowlers today. After a dismal display last year Haryana came to life with a rejuvenating outright trumph over Jammu and Kashmir in the opening encounter of the North Zone Ranji Trophy league at the Maharaja Aggarsain Stadium today. In the process they also avenged their defeat suffered at the hands of same opponents last year at Jammu. On the third and penultimate day of the match , Haryana registered a convincing victory over their rivals with an innings margin.

After facing the humiliation of follow-on, Jammu and Kashmir needed another 282 runs to make Haryana bat again with nine wickets intact at draw of stumps yesterday. Today, Haryana bowlers spent a frustating first session as Jammu and Kashmir's overnight-unbeaten pair of batsmen ­ Raju Sharma (57 in 227 minutes) and Kanwaljit Singh offered resistance and registered hundred run partnership for the second wicket in 144 minutes off 223 balls.

The partnership was terminated when leg-spinner Amit Mishra provided the much needed breakthrough, but not before the pair had added 140 runs. Kanwal scored 71 runs in 206 minutes off 174 balls. He hit twelve fours. His dismissal cleared the decks for Haryana's outright victory. Jammu and Kashmir lost the remaining wickets in quick succession. It was young left arm spinner S Vidyut who was playing his first match for Haryana after migrating from Tamil Nadu who did the damage.

Vidyut struck in a big way and bagged 6 wickets after conceding only 24 runs in 21 overs. The Jammu and Kashmir innings folded at 179 to give Haryana a victory by innings. Haryana managed to garner as many as 8 points whereas Jammu and Kashmir got no points from the match.

*Services Struggling at 297 for 9

A stubborn 137 minute stay at the wicket by the eighth wicket pair helped Services reach 297 for the loss of nine wickets but the visitors were still 21 short of saving the follow-on at the end of third day's play against Delhi in the North Zone Ranji Trophy tie here today.

Coming together in the 51st over of the day with Services struggling at 210 for 7 after Delhi left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi ran through the middle order claiming four quick wickets, a determined CD Thompson and JP Pandey thwarted the rival attack for 34 overs frustrating Delhi's attempts to wrap up the tail and enforce a follow-on today itself.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 62 for two, services continued their save-the-match tactics with overnight batsmen cautiously defending for 22 overs before Delhi struck removing Yahspal Singh (69), who while trying to sweep, edged to keeper Pradeep Chawla off Rahul Sanghvi.

Sanghvi struck again four overs later removing PMS Reddy (34, 3x4), effecting a brilliant caught-and-bowled.

Just when Services seemed to fold up meekly, skipper Sanjay Verma played a blistering innings, which included ten boundaries. when the team seemed to claw their way back into the game, Sanghvi came back with more venom and sent Verma back.

Verma (53) skied a Sanghvi full toss towards the mid-wicket and Sarandeep Singh committed no mistake.

Four overs later, off-spinner Sarandeep produced a beauty and Chawla latched on to a top edge flying out of new man Sarabjeet Singh's bat.

The Sanghvi-Chawla duo continued working wonders for Delhi and this time Sayed Javed perished to their designs for a duck giving Chawla his fourth catch of the match.

Delhi then prepared for the kill, bringing on seamers Bandhari and Arun Singh to finish off the tail. But the Thompson- Pandey partnership proved too stubborn.

With his arsenal exhausted, Manhas brought himself on and effected a turn-around six overs before close of play dismissing Pandey, who seemed to have lost concentration and ended up snicking to Akash Chopra at first slip.

He also worked a miracle with the last ball of the day dismissing Arun Sharma who hit a rash shot towards fine leg where RS Gupta gleefully grabbed it.

Delhi would have loved to garner full eight points with an outright victory after dominating with a huge first innings score. For that to happen, they will have to grab 11 service wickets on the last day tomorrow.

On a dead Palam pitch, it is indeed an uphill task.

*Himachal on verge of an innings defeat

Excellent bowling performance from Punjab forced Himachal Pardesh to follow-on and they are again five down for 216 runs in 2nd innings in the North Zone Ranji Trophy league cricket match being played at PCA Stadium, Mohali.

Himachal Pradesh resumed their overnight innings from 147 for 5 with not out batsman Sangram Singh and Sandeep Sharma. Both played with great courage and showed some resistance against a disciplined attack. Sangram Singh completed his half century in 81 balls with the help of 8 fours. Trying to pull a short pitched rising delivery on leg stump from Amit Uniyal, he snicked the ball for keeper Dharmani, who took the catch and Uniyal gave a vital breakthrough to his team. The duo added 49 runs for the sixth wicket partnership.

After the departure of Sangram Singh tailenders could not stay longer and for the addition of only 17 runs they lost another four wickets. Debutant Amit Uniyal took three wickets for 33 runs while Vineet Sharma and Babloo Kumar also accounted for three wickets each after giving away 83 and 12 runs respectively.

Forced to follow-on, Himachal started their 2nd innings on a sound note as Nischal Gaur (51) and Raza Ali (14) added 46 runs for the first wicket. Raza Ali was brilliantly caught at third slip by Dinesh Mongia who took a single handed high catch to his left off the bowling of Vineet Sharma. Nayyar (5) joined Gaur but with the addition of 8 runs to the total he was trapped in front of wicket by Sandeep Sawal.

Sangram Singh and Nischal Gaur played cautiously and kept the scoreboard moving. Gaur completed his half century in 100 balls with the help of 5 hits to the fence. Amit Uniyal gave another jolt to Himachal team as he clean bowled Sangram Singh (13) with a yorker. The scoreboard was showing 91 runs for three wickets. With the addition of just two runs to the total Nischal Gaur lost his patience and was trapped in front of wicket by left arm spinner Babloo Kumar.

Here comes the brightest part of the innings when Sandeep Sharma joined skipper Virender Sharma. Both played aggressively and added 50 runs in just 62 balls. Virender was most instrumental in scoring runs at a quick pace. Virender completed his fifty with a cheeky single to point off Sandeep Sawal. He took 75 balls to complete his half-century which was studded with 7 boundaries and a huge six. The duo completed the 100-run partnership in 144 balls for the fifth wicket, which is a record for the fifth wicket against any team in this version of game.

Sandeep Sharma who was shaping well for a big score played early to a slower delivery from Anit Uniyal and gave a simple catch to Dinesh Mongia at mid-off. Sandeep scored 44 runs in 76 balls with 7 hits to fence. The duo added valuable 117 runs for their team and give them some stability and respect.

At the draw of stumps on day three Virender Sharma was batting on 61 while Paras Dogra had 5 to his name. Himachal still requires 113 runs to avoid innings defeat with five wickets in hand. Amit Uniyal captured two wickets at the cost of 51 runs, while Babloo Kumar, Sandeep Sawal and Vineet Sharma snared a wicket each.

*Madhya Pradesh bowl Vidarbha out on Day One

The Vidarbha C.A. ground in Nagpur, the venue for the Ranji Trophy tie between the home side and Madhya Pradesh, saw Vidarbha bowled out for 295 and the visitors make 9 for no loss by the close of play.

Vidarbha, winning the toss, opted to bat; partnerships, however, were hard to come by, as all the batsmen made a start but could not convert it into significant knocks. The openers were dismissed with 45 on the board, and wickets fell at regular intervals after that.

The only sizeable contribution came from Samir Khare, who made 70 and was the last man to fall for Vidarbha. Batting first with Alind Naidu (66) and then largely with the tail, Khare made his runs off 110 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes in the process.

Vidarbha reached their total of 295 in 83.3 overs, leaving time for four overs to be bowled in Madhya Pradesh's batting effort. The Madhya Pradesh openers saw their side safely through to stumps without losing any wickets.

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