Captain Rishi Dhawan led from the front with a well-made 67 to help Himachal Pradesh take a vital 45-run first innings lead over Tripura at the end of second days' play in a Ranji Trophy Group C match, here today.
Resuming at the overnight score of 26 for one after bowling out Tripura for 141 yesterday, Himachal batsmen too found the going tough as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
If not for some determined batting from Dhawan and opener Prashant Chopra (43), it would have been difficult for Himachal to surpass Tripura's first innings total.
Dhawan struck nine fours and one six during his 95-ball knock while Chopra decorated his innings with seven boundaries.
Off-spinner Viki Saha was the pick of Tripura bowlers scalping five wickets for 53 runs.
At stumps, Tripura were 93 for one in 42 overs in their second essay, thereby taking an overall lead of 48 runs.
K B Pawan was unbeaten on 56 runs, while giving him company was Abhijit Dey on 20.
Subhrajit Roy (13) was the lone Tripura wicket to fall, stumped by Aatish Bhalik off leg-spinner Karanveer Singh's bowling.
Brief Scores:
Tripura: 141 & 93 for one in 42 overs (K B Pawan 56 not out; Karanveer Singh 1/21).
Himachal Pradesh: 186 all out in 61.5 overs (Rishi Dhawan 67, Prashant Chopra 43; Viki Saha 5/53).
