Uday Kaul (144) and skipper Pankaj Dharmani (94) forged a 181-run fourth wicket stand to help hosts Punjab take crucial 38-run lead against Andhra Pradesh at stumps on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Super League match in Amritsar [Images] on Monday.

Resuming at 173 for three, the hosts were 372 for nine with Gagandeep Singh (15) and Sarabjit Ladda (0) at the crease on close.

Yesterday's not out batsmen, Uday and Dharmani continued with cautious approach and batted with patience.

Dharmani consumed 259 balls to score his 94 before being trapped by M Faiq. He struck 12 boundaries during his almost six-hour stay at the crease.

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Kaul's marathon innings, containing 16 shots to fence, came to a disappointing end as he ran himself out while stealing a single.

Down the order, M Gony (48) missed the half century by two runs but did well to help his team cross the 350-run mark.

G Shankra Rao was successful bowler for the visitors as he accounted for Gony and Amanpreet Singh (6).

I Raju, who had scalped two wickets yesterday had C Madan (2) caught behind to take his bowling figures to 3 for 63 runs.

Scorecard:

Andhra Pradesh 1st innings: 334

Punjab 1st innings
RS Ricky c Prasad b Raju 5
K Goel lbw b Kalyankrishna 0
R Inder c Prasad b Raju 18
U Kaul run out (Sumanth) 144
P Dharmani lbw b Faiq 94
C Madan c Prasad b Raju 2
A Kakkar b Watekar 48
M Gony c Watekar b Shankara Rao 7
Gagandeep Singh not out 15
Amanpreet Singh lbw b Shankara Rao 6
S Ladda not out 0
Extras (b 12, lb 14, w 1, nb 6) 33      
Total (9 wickets; 162 overs) 372

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-16, 3-56, 4-237, 5-248, 6-307, 7-331, 8-361, 9-370

Bowling: D Kalyankrishna 26 8 61 1, P Vijay Kumar 33 10 56 0, I Raju 22 3 63 3, Watekar 24 4 65 1, Faiq 22 6 44 1, Shankara Rao 29 10 51 2, Y Gnaneswara Rao 6 2 6 0