Guwahati: A career best 175 by Kiran Pawar propelled Assam to a commanding position with an overall first innings lead of 258 at the end of the penultimate day's play of the Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh on Monday. Replying to Uttar Pradesh's first innings score of 211, hosts Assam amassed 469 for nine declared, thanks to Pawar's knock and a quick-fire 80 not out by teammate Manoj Joglekar. At Mohali, an unbeaten 160 by S Sriram helped Tamil Nadu reach 334 for seven at close on third day of its Ranji Trophy match against Punjab to earn a vital 101-run first innings lead. Resuming at its overnight 20 without loss, Tamil Nadu lost three batsmen -- Hemang Badani, Badrinath and V Saravanan -- to no-scores but recovered from the setbacks to post a healthy total. At Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh was poised for a straight victory in its Ranji Trophy elite group tie against Bengal even as a century by Devang Gandhi failed to fetch the hosts a fighting total in their second innings on the third day of the match. The Bengal second innings folded up for 237 giving it a paltry 107-run lead as Andhra bowlers Vatekar (4 for 73) and Kalyan Krishna (3 for 41) wrecked the hosts' middle-order. At the end of the day at the Eden Gardens, the Andhra openers scored 20 runs in 4.1 overs as play was halted due to bad light. At Ahmedabad, Neeraj Patel cracked a valiant 165 to spearhead Gujarat's fight-back as the hosts reached 414 for seven in reply to Orissa's 589 on the third day of the Elite (Group 'A') Ranji Trophy cricket match. The 21-year old left-hander Patel also completed his 1000 runs in his 18th Ranji Trophy match when he reached 35. Gujarat needs 25 more runs to avoid a follow-on. At New Delhi, an unbeaten century by Gautam Gambhir drove the last nail in Hyderabad's coffin as Delhi raced to 260 for three in its first innings on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite group 'A' cricket match at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground. After 122 overs were lost to bad weather in the first two days, Hyderabad declared its first innings at lunch at 297 for 9. But any chance it might have nurtured of claiming quick wickets and putting the hosts under pressure was nipped in the bud by Gambhir's attacking batting. At stumps, the southpaw was batting on 140 (270m, 196b, 22x4), his third of the season and ninth in his career. Accompanying Gambhir at the other end was Varun Kumar with 12. Hyderabad needs to win this last match of the group stage but with one day remaining its chances look bleak.

Tags: cricket, ranji trophy, kiran pawar, manoj joglekar, mohali, s sriram, hemang badani, badrinath, v saravanan, devang gandhi, vatekar, kalyan krishna, eden gardens, neeraj patel, gautam gambhir, feroze.