Each run scored and each falling wicket has added to the mystery over two days, making it difficult to ascertain just who has the upper hand in Punjab match against Hyderabad.

Punjab, having taken a 28-run first-innings lead, are 87 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand. On Thursday, Punjab will need the experience of Pankaj Dharmani to pull them through while Hyderabad will hope to pick up early wickets. On Wednesday, Punjab’s Harmeet Singh, Love Ablish and Manpreet Gony bowled their hearts out against a batting line-up that included VVS Laxman. But for Syed Qaudri’s defiant 73, Hyderabad would have been in a much worse position. Laxman managed 26 and was the seventh batsman to be dismissed with 89 on the board . But Qaudri added runs with the last three wickets to take the side to 193. Ablish picked up four wickets. Punjab’s lost three wickets in their second innings but Taruwar Kohli and Pankaj Dharmani ensured there were no further hiccups as the hosts finished on 59 for three.

Brief scores: Punjab 221 and 59 for 3 in 23 overs (T Kohli 8 no, P Dharmani 10 no, Kadher 2/17); Hyderabad 193 all out in 62.5 overs (S Quadri 73 no, VVS Laxman 26, Abilish 4/70)