Hosts Vidarbha crushed Jammu and Kashmir by an innings and 112 runs on the third day of the 'Plate' Group 'A' Ranji Trophy match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground in Nagpur on Friday.

Jammu and Kashmir, following on at 36 for 4 overnight, were bundled out for 163 runs in the post-lunch session, seasoned off-spinner Preetam Gandhe claiming five wickets for

49 runs to guide Vidarbha to an outright victory.

Vidarbha had made 379 in their first essay.

This victory earned the hosts a maximum five points, which took their tally to seven points in the Plate league.

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Sanjay Raul slams ton for Orissa

A fine 107 by skipper Sanjay Raul enabled Orissa pile 320 for eight at close on the third day of the four-day Ranji Trophy 'Plate' group match against Saurashtra at the Barabati stadium in Cuttack on Friday.

With a day's play remaining, Orissa are ahead of Saurashtra by 92 runs in the first innings with two wickets standing.

Raul, who shared a 101-run partnership with Pravanjan Mullick (60) for the fourth wicket, provided stability to the innings.  It was Raul's first century this season. He batted for 342 minutes, hitting 14 boundaries.

Mullick's half-century, which lasted 130 minutes, contained six fours and a six.

But once Raul was run-out with the total on 284 for four, three more wickets tumbled in quick succession to reduce the hosts to 307 for 8.

Debashis Mohanty (10) and Deepak Mangaraj (3) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

Besides Mullick, opener Subrat Behera (50) and Niranjan Behera (40) batted well.

Saurashtra skipper Sitanshu Kotak tried as many as eight bowlers with medium pacer Pintoo Gosai emerging successful with a haul of three for 64.

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Tripura rally after early setbacks

Despite early setbacks, Tripura managed to score 255 for the loss of eight wickets, thanks to an unbeaten knock of 73 runs by Timir Chanda, on the third day of their Plate 'A' Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Friday.

Resuming at their overnight score of three for one, chasing Madhya Pradesh's first innings total of 454 runs, Tripura suffered an early blow when Subal Choudhry (0) was caught by Abbas Ali in the slips off H S Sodhi.

The team suffered yet another blow in the 31st over when Sadagopan Mahesh was caught behind by Naman Ojha off Narendra Hirwani. The duo of Tirtha Ray and Mahesh took the team's total to 56.

Ray (31) and Chetan Sachdev (33) then added 55 runs for the fourth wicket to take the team's score to 111 runs, but the most successful bowler of the day, leg spinner Yogesh Golwalkar, struck by claiming the wicket of Sachdev, who was caught by Hirwani.

Later, Golwalkar also claimed the wicket of Arindam Sarkar (10), having him trapped lbw, while Sandeep Dahad (11) was bowled out by him on a superb delivery.

Timir Chanda (73) and Ashish Kapoor (24) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

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Haryana take the upper hand against Bihar

Bihar were struggling at 71 for two in their second innings after conceding an 111-run first innings lead to Haryana on the penultimate day of the four-day Ranji Trophy 'Plate' Group 'B' match at Keenan stadium in Jamshedpur on Friday.

Bihar got off to a poor start, losing two quick wickets for four runs while opener Anant Prakash had to retire hurt owing to ill health.

However, Rajiv Kumar, who notched his ninth ton in first class match after hitting a hundred in the first innings, and Mohit Goel, who walked in following the dismissal of C M Jha (4), played cautiously and took the score to 71 for two when stumps were drawn.

At close, Kumar was batting on 21, while Goel was on 42, which had six hits to the fence.

Joginder Sharma bagged both the wickets that fell in the second innings.

Earlier, resuming at overnight score of 166 for two, Haryana's two overnight batsmen Sunny Singh and Nishan Ganda stitched a 114-run partnership for the third wicket before Sunny tossed a delivery of leg spinner Sahid Khan into the safe hands of Anant Prakash at mid-wicket. Sunny's 295 minutes knock included 17 boundaries.

Nishan Ganda 51 and Safiq Khan 62 (9x4) were the other major contributors for Haryana.

The visitors, who were on 311 for five at one stage, lost the last five wickets for 38 runs with Mihir Diwakar polishing off the tail enders, claiming five wickets for 58 runs.

Haryana's first innings came to a close at 349, giving them a 111-run first innings lead after the visitors bundled out the hosts for 238.

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Himachal avoid innings defeat

A defiant 58 by Ajay Mannu enabled Himachal avoid an innings defeat in their four-day Ranji Trophy 'Plate' match against Goa, as they scored 230 for eight in their second innings at draw of stumps on day 3.

Trailing by 201 runs in the first innings, Mannu batted doggedly in the second essay to give Himachal a 29-run lead with two wickets in hand.

Sandeep Sharma, who scored a brilliant 53, and skipper Sangram Singh, who contributed 45 valuable runs, were the other two batsmen who came to rescue of Himachal.

For Goa, who had scored 312 in their first innings, Amit Dani claimed four wickets for 48 while Shadab bagged three wickets for 41 runs.