A 102-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Hardik Sethi (61) and Deepak Punia (57) helped Services reach 230 in their first innings against Jharkhand on the opening day of their Group C Ranji Trophy cricket match, here today.
Only three of the top-six batsmen could manage double-figures as seamers Varun Aaron and Rituraj Singh returned with identical figures of 3 for 46 to reduce Services to 87 for six at one stage.
Sethi was at the crease when it slipped further to 116-7, but he found excellent support from No. 9 Punia, who went on to record his third first-class fifty.
Samar Quadri and Shahbaz Nadeem too contributed for Jharkhand by picking up two wickets each.
In reply, Jharkhand rode on Ishan Kishan (47 off 63 balls) to reach 102-2 in 25 overs. He was run out with a little more than four overs left in the day.
Suraj Yadav took the lone Jharkhand wicket, cleaning up other opener Sumit Kumar (10) in the ninth over.
SP Gautam (26) RR Singh (8) were at the crease at the draw of stumps.
Brief Score:
Services 1st innings: 230 all out in 59.3 overs (HR Sethi 61, DS Punia 57; RR Singh 3/46)
Jharkhand 1st innings: 102-2 in 25 overs (Ishan Kishan 47; S Yadav 1/30).
