A career best knock of 251 not out by Reetinder Sodhi helped hosts Punjab score a massive total of 566 for four at close of second day of their Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match against Maharashtra at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in Mohali on Sunday.

Punjab replying to Maharashtra's first innings total of 123 all out has thus got a lead of 443 runs with six first innings wickets till intact.

Sodhi (251, 4x18) and A Kakkar (55, 4x11) were batting at close. Sodhi's earlier best score was 200 versus Delhi in the Ranji match at Patiala in 1997-98.

Resuming at the over night score of 174 for no loss, Ravneet Ricky (119, 4x18) was the first to return to the pavilion after the addition of 96 runs to the board.

The new batsman Yuvraj Singh also played well with Sodhi to keep the board moving. When the total read 371, Yuvraj Singh (66, 4x12, 1x6) was out LBW to Siddiqui.

Dinesh Mongia (0) failed with the bat and was caught by Satbhai off the bowling of Khirid.

Pankaj Dharmani added a valuable 50 runs to the total in the company of Sodhi. Dharmani, who hit eight fours, was out lbw to Khirid when the total was 484.

The visiting bowlers failed to get any support from the wicket whereas the Punjab batsmen added 392 runs to the over night score for the loss of just four wickets during the day.

Scorecard

Maharashtra (1st innings):  123

Punjab (1st innings):
R Ricky c Satbhai b Sanclecha 119
R Sodhi not out 251
Yuvraj Singh lbw b Siddiqui 66
D Mongia c Satbhai b Khirid 0
P Dharmani lbw Khirid 50
A Kakkar not out 55

Extras: (lb-6, w-2, nb-17) 25

Total: (for 4 wkts in 136 overs) 566

Fall of wickets: 1-270, 2-371, 3-372, 4-484.

Bowling: I Siddiqui 30-3-147-1, A A Sanclecha 32-2-113-1, R D Khirid 33-4-100-2, K R Adhav 28-5-146-0, H Kanitkar 4-0-14-0, D Mohan 4-0-13-0, K D Aphale 5-0-27-0.