Sharma's 91 help HP take first innings lead against Hyderabad

Bipul Sharma hit a strokeful 91 to help Himachal Pradesh take a crucial 59-run first innings lead by scoring 296 against Hyderabad at stumps on the second day of the Group C Ranji Trophy match here today.
Sharma blasted 15 fours and a six in his 110-ball innings and added 65 runs with skipper Rahul Dhawan (47) for the sixth wicket. He also forged a 113-run partership with tail-ender V S Malik (45) to take Himachal close to the 250-mark.
In reply, Hyderabad reached 40 for no loss in 14 overs in their second innings. TL Suman (21) and PA Reddy (13) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn.

Earlier, Prashant Chopra (41) and Sangram Singh (43) gave HP a decent start reaching 79 but Alfred Absolem broke the partnership when he cleaned up the former in the 27th over.
The wicket triggered a collapse as Pagadala Naidu then dismissed new batsman Paras Dogra (1) cheaply in the next over and Absolem came back to get rid off Abhinav Bali (0) in the 29th over as the hosts all of a sudden slipped to 81 for three.
Maneik Mohil (9) also didn't last long as he was dismissed by Hanuma Vihari in 34th over and when opener Sangram was sent back to the hut by Ravi Kiran in the next over, Himachal were looking down the barrel at 100 for five.

Skipper Dhawan and Sharma then took the onus on themselves and pushed HP to 165 when the former lost his wicket to Naidu.

Sharma, however, continued the fightback and helped HP cross the visitors' first innings total of 237.
Brief Score:
Hyderabad's innings: 237 & 40-1 in 14 overs (TL Suman 21; VS Malik 7/0)
Himachal Pradesh 1st innings: 296 all out in 73.1 overs (Bipul Sharma 91; A Absolem 4/88).