AGENCIES
GHAZIABAD
An unbeaten and maiden double-century from opener Nitin Saini kept Haryana on track to take a first-innings lead against Goa in their Ranji Trophy Group C match in Ghaziabad. Haryana ended the third day on 392 for 3 in reply to Goa's 413.
Haryana were 110 for no loss overnight but Shubham Rohilla could score only nine runs on the day before handing a return catch to Amulaya Pandrekar for 41. Saiani cruised to his century but Mohit Hooda also gave a return catch, to Shadab Jakati, for 27 before Saini and Chaitanya Bishnoi combined for a massive stand of 227 for the third wicket.
Bishnoi scored 90, his seventh first-class fifty, with 11 fours while Saini clubbed 20 fours during his 12th hundred in the format. Bishnoi was dismissed just before stumps and Saini was unbeaten on 211 as Haryana were only 21 away from Goa's score.
BRIEF SCORES
Goa 413 (S Kauthankar 225; H Patel 75-4, A Mishra 147-4) lead Haryana 392/3 in 125 overs (N Saini 211*, C Bishnoi 90; S Jakati 68-1, A Pandrekar 78-1, D Misal 37-1) by 21 runs
