Australian umpire Ben Treloar will officiate in two Ranji Trophy matches, while India’s Parashar Joshi will travel Down Under to stand in two Sheffield Shield matches and one One Day Cup fixture as part of an exchange programme between the governing bodies of the two countries.

Treloar will officiate Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat from October 18 to 21 in Delhi before standing in Mumbai’s clash with Haryana from October 26 to 29 in Mumbai, a Cricket Australia release stated.

Meanhwhile, Joshi’s Australian exchange will begin with Queensland’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the Gabba from November 11 to 14.

He will then officiate in the sides’ One Day Cup fixture at the same venue on November 16 before completing the program in the Sheffield Shield clash between New South Wales and Queensland at the SCG from November 22 to 25.

The Australian brings significant experience to the exchange, having officiated in 30 First-Class matches, 20 List A matches and 39 Big Bash League games. He has also stood in two Women’s One Day Internationals and four Women’s T20 Internationals.

Away from the field, Treloar works as Cricket New South Wales’ Umpire Education Officer, helping develop the next generation of match officials. His contribution to umpire education has been recognised with four George Borwick Memorial Awards from the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association.

Joshi will head to Australia with an impressive domestic record, having officiated in 19 First-Class matches across the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, 32 List A matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Deodhar Trophy, and 40 T20 matches, including appointments in the Indian Premier League and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Punjab’s Vihaan Malhotra (103, 208b, 11×4) struck a century on First Class debut but it was not enough to dispel Assam’s stake at a first-innings lead on day three of their Ranji Trophy round one match at the New PCA Stadium here.

Evidently a first-innings shoot-off after rain washed out the first day, the contest was turning one-sided when Vihaan took the wheel in a 137-run opening partnership with Harnoor Pannu (54, 132b, 7×4). But Punjab lost five wickets for 100 runs on either side of tea.

Salil Arora and Emanjot Singh Chahal arrested the collapse with a 50-run sixth-wicket partnership, but Punjab was at 287 for five at stumps, still 86 behind.

Both Vihaan and Harnoor were true to their kind — languid, left-handed batters — and plundered the off-side in the morning session.

Harnoor had just slogged Amlanjyoti Das through the on-side, shortly after his 121-ball half-century, when he was caught in two minds on a delivery outside off against Sarupam Purkayastha and edged to the ’keeper.

Vihaan blundered on 95, poking a delivery outside off from Mukhtar Hussain but was dropped by the wicketkeeper. Mukhtar made him play with the angle and got the ball to change line and crash into the off-stump but a no ball check got Vihaan another life on 101.

Sandwiched in between was Uday Saharan’s attacking intent, which was cut short by a lapse in concentration. Shortly after a verbal skirmish with Sibsankar Roy, he was trapped in front off Purkayastha.

There was no let-off a third time as Mukhtar pinned Vihaan with a delivery that came in after pitching. Assam gave away just 42 runs in the time it got Ramandeep Singh run out and Jashanpreet Sidhu leg-before off Amlanjyoti.

With the second new ball just two overs old, Assam will walk out on the fourth morning with its tails up, hoping to find a crack in the nagging sixth-wicket partnership and running through the tail that will follow.

The scores: Assam — 1st innings: 373.

Punjab — 1st innings: Vihaan Malhotra lbw b Mukhtar 103, Harnoor Pannu c Ghadigaonkar b Purkayastha 54, Uday Saharan lbw b Purkayastha 30, Jashanpreet Sidhu lbw b Amlanjyoti 22, Ramandeep Singh (run out) Denish 17, Salil Arora (batting) 25, Emanjot Chahal (batting) 28; Extras (b-1, nb-7): 8; Total (for five wkts. in 96 overs): 287.

Fall of wickets: 1-137, 2-195, 3-195, 4-226, 5-237.

Assam bowling: Mukhtar 23-5-79-1, Dipjyoti 9-2-40-0, Amlanjyoti 25-2-54-1, Purkayastha 18-3-52-2, Mohit 21-2-61-0.