Rajat Paliwal top-scored with 72 as Services laboured to 256 for eight on day 2 of their Ranji Trophy Group C match against Andhra.
Struggling at 73 for five at stumps after a rain-curtailed opening day's play in Anantapur, Paliwal gave the visiting side's scoreboard a semblance of respectability with his 155-ball knock, which was laced with seven hits to the fence at the Rural Development Trust stadium.
Syed Sahabuddin, T Atchuta Rao and D Shivkumar too two wickets apiece for Andhra while there was one each for R V Pawar and K Bharat Reddy.
After being at the receiving end on day 1, Services got a much better start today as Paliwal and wicketkeeper Sarabjit Singh, who scored 34, added 99 runs for the sixth wicket to put them on a the right track.
Sarabjit fell after making 34 and Paliwal, too, perished soon after but Muzzaffaruddin Khalid, who was unbeaten on 41, along with Shadab Nazar (30 not out) were involved in an unbroken stand of 55 for the ninth wicket, which frustrated the Andhra players.
Brief scores:
Services: 256 for 8 in 108 overs (Rajat Paliwal 72, Muzzaffaruddin Khalid 41 not out; D Shikumar 2/30, Syed Sahabuddin).
Himachal in comfortable position against Kerala
After bundling out Kerala for 229, Himachal Pradesh rode on Paras Dogra's century to reach a comfortable 250 for four at the end of the second day's play in their Group C Ranji Trophy match.
Dogra scored a brilliant 121 off 183 balls, studded with 18 fours and three sixes to help the hosts take a 21-run first innings lead with six wickets remaining.
At stumps on day two, Amit Kumar was unbeaten on 18, while Aatish Bhalaik was yet to open his account.
Resuming at 196 for eight, Kerala's overnight unbeaten centurion Sanju Samson continued with his good work before he ran out of partners at the other end to be left stranded at 127 not out.
Another overnight batsman, Prasanth Parameswaran, who resumed on 13, could add only four more runs before Vikramjeet Malik sent him packing, adding third wicket to his kitty. The last batsman -- KR Sreejith -- got run out for nought.
For Himachal, Malik (3/47) and Rishi Dhawan (3/77) claimed three wickets each, while Gurvinder Singh took two for 47 and Mohinderraj Sharma claimed one for 50.
Replying to Kerala's modest total, Himachal lost Prashant Chopra for a quickfire 24. Thereafter, Aakash Chopra (18) and Dogra put on a 78-run stand together for the second wicket.
After Aakash Chopra's departure, C Hemanth Kumar (45) also chipped in with crucial runs.
Kerala 1st innings: 229 all out in 82 overs (Sanju Samson not out 127, Abhishek Hegde 26; Vikramjeet Malik 3/47, Rishi Dhawan 3/77).
HP 1st innings: 250 for four in 78 overs (Paras Dogra 121, C Hemanth Kumar 45; PU Anthaf 2/38).
Jharkhand take massive lead
Jharkhand took a massive 159-run lead over Jammu & Kashmir after posting 354 for eight in their first innings on the second day of the match in Jammu.
Resuming at 81 for one, Jharkhand's overnight batsman Rameez Nemat (75), Saurabh Tiwary (72) and Shiv Gautam (80) made crucial contributions to put their team in the drivers' seat.
For J&K, Parvez Rassol was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 96, while Ram Dayal took two for 64.
Brief scores:
J&K 1st innings: 195 all out
Jharkhand 1st innings: 354 for eight in 116 overs (Shiv Gautam 80, Rameez Nemat 75, Saurabh Tiwary 72; Parvez Rassol 3/96).
