AGENCY
RANCHI: Half-centuries from Paras Dogra, Rishi Dhawan and Ankit Kalsi put Himachal Pradesh in driver’s seat against Jammu and Kashmir in their group C Ranji Trophy cricket match at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, on Sunday. Himachal Pradesh put up a solid batting performance with India discard Dhawan leading the show with an unbeaten 79 (12×4, 1×6) as they piled 370 to get a handsome 208 first innings lead. Starting at 39 for no loss on second day, Jammu and Kashmir still need 169 runs to make Himachal Pradesh bat again.
Overnight 58 for 2 with Ankit Kalsi on 25 and Paras Dogra on three, Himachal Pradesh made steady progress as the duo notched their respective half-centuries. Kalsi scored 54 (9×4) in an 88-run third wicket partnership with Dogra who topscored with a patient 89 from 170 balls (10×4). Later Dhawan took charge and engaged himself in a crucial 74-run seventh wicket stand with Bipul Sharma (28) to give Himachal Pradesh a massive lead.
Brief Scores: Jammu and Kashmir 162 and 39 for no loss; 11 overs. Himachal Pradesh 370 in 98.5 overs (Paras Dogra 89, Rishi Dhawan 79 not out, Ankit Kalsi 54; Aamir Aziz 4/56). PTI
