Ojha bags three to check Himachal's run feast on Day 1

Making an impact right away after being cleared by the BCCI for his suspect bowling action, Hyderabad left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha bagged three wickets to check Himachal Pradesh's run feast on the opening day of the Group C Ranji Trophy cricket match, here today.
Put in to bat at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal in the four-day encounter, Himachal rode Paras Dogra's unbeaten 101 to finish the day on 269 for five in 84 overs.
The Bipul Sharma-led Himachal lost early wickets but opener Raghav Dhawan (53) did provide some platform for the middle-order with a knock laced with eight fours.

But, Ojha, who comes out of an effective one-month ban after being suspended in December last year, trapped Dhawan lbw and then got Rashmi Parida and Nikhil Gangta out for duck to rock the Himachal boat.
Dogra, who registered his 17th first-class century, then stitched a 102-run sixth-wicket partnership with Sharma (83 not out) to stabilise the innings.
Dogra's 208-ball knock was laced with 13 fours and two sixes while Sharma's innings consisted of nine fours and a six.

The duo mixed the right dose of caution and aggression to make the Hyderabad bowling look ordinary.
Left-arm pacer Anwar Ahmed and medium-pacer Ravi Kiran also picked up a wicket each but Ojha was clearly the star of the day for the Hanuma Vihari-led Hyderabad, albeit a touch expensive in his 17 overs bowled.

Speaking to PTI after being cleared by the board yesterday, out-of-favour Indian spinner Ojha said that his ultimate aim is to make the national cut once again.
"Yes, I am happy to be playing but I belong somewhere else! I belong in that Indian team and that's my aim. To get my place back in the Test side," he said.
Brief Scores:
Himachal Pradesh 269/5 in 84 overs (Paras Dogra 101 not out, Bipul Sharma 83 not out; Pragyan Ojha 3-89).