A stubborn innings of 86 by Gnaneswara Rao and useful contributions by the middle order helped Andhra Pradesh take a crucial first innings lead over Services on the third and penultimate day of the Ranji Trophy match at Palam ground in New Delhi on Monday.

Andhra Pradesh batted cautiously to put up 347 for eight on the board, and take a 51-run lead and ensure two points from the tie.

Services, in their first essay, were bowled out for 296 and have yet to earn a point in the Ranji Trophy this season.

Resuming on their overnight score of 112 for 2, skipper MSK Prasad and Venugopal Rao added 32 runs before the latter was out on individual score of 41.

Prasad was next to go when the score was 180 but after that a 55-run fifth wicket stand between Ambati Rayudu and Gnaneswara Rao steadied the visitors' innings.

BBK Singh (9) and Mohammed Faiq (4) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn on day three.

Services (first innings): 296

Andhra (first innings):
T Suman c Reddy b Amrinder Singh 13
MSK Prasad c Sarabjit Singh b A.Sharma 63
ASK Varma lbw b A.K.Mohanty 29
Y Venugopal Rao c Yashpal Singh b Amrinder Singh 41
A Rayudu lbw b A.K.Mohanty 44
Y Gnaneswara Rao c Reddy b Mohanty 86
K Sahabuddin run out 27
BBK Singh not out 9
D Kalyankrishna b Pankaj Kumar 7
M Faiq not out 4
Extras (B-9, LB-2, NB-13) 24
Total ( in 134.3 overs) 347 for 8

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-77, 3-143, 4-187, 5-235, 6-289, 7-334, 8-341

Bowling: F Mohammed 20-6-53-0, Pankaj Kumar 21.3-7-52-1, A Sharma 31-4-94-1,  Amrinder Singh 35-13-67-2, A Mohanty 25-7-63-3, Yashpal Singh: 2-0-7-0