Ranji Trophy: Pankaj Singh gives Puducherry first-innings lead

CHENNAI: Despite Yogesh Nagar hitting an unbeaten 141 for Meghalaya, Cricket Association of Puducherry (CAP) claimed the first-innings lead on Day 3 of their Ranji Trophy encounter at home on Wednesday.
Medium-pacer Pankaj Singh was the star of the show with 6 for 39 in 25 overs that helped Puducherry bowl out Meghalaya for 326, 63 runs short of their total. The former India bowler had taken three wickets on the second day and backed it up with another three on Wednesday.
At stumps, Puducherry were 95 for 4 in the second innings with an overall lead of 158 runs.
Resuming the day on 161 for 6, Meghalaya seemed down and out in their pursuit of overhauling Puducherry’s first innings score of 389. But former Delhi allrounder Nagar ensured that the visitors stayed in the hunt with only his second century in first-class cricket.
While Nagar and Abhay Negi added 85 runs for the seventh wicket, it was the partnership for the eighth wicket between Nagar and Aditya Singhania that really hurt the home side. The duo racked up 94 runs together just when Puducherry were seemingly on the verge of getting a big lead.
Once Pankaj dismissed Singhania for 42 from 93 balls, there was no resistance from the No. 10 and No. 11 batsmen as Nagar was left stranded on 142 at the other end.
In the second innings, Puducherry began with openers Narayanan and M Viknesh stitching together a 50-run partnership. But Meghalaya struck back with three quick wickets late in the day including that of Paras Dogra, who had scored a hundred in the first innings. All four Puducherry wickets fell to left-arm spinner Gurinder Singh, who is likely to be a threat on the fourth and final day too considering the deteriorating pitch.
Brief scores: Puducherry 1st innings 389 & 2nd innings 95/4 (Gurinder Singh 4/29). Meghalaya 1st innings 326 (Yogesh Nagar 141 not out; Pankaj Singh 6/39).