City boys in control after Monarch ton

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18

Monarch Goel scored a century as hosts Chandigarh piled on 303 runs against Ambala on the opening day of their Haryana Inter-District U-19 Cricket Championship at the Mahajan Ground in Mani Majra, here on Monday. 

Batting first, Chandigarh lost skipper Treyaksh Bali cheaply. However, Bali and Shariq Khan batted sensibly and added 85 runs for the second wicket before Rahul struck for the visitors. 

Khan was out after scoring a patient 39. 

Rudraksh Sharma could only add three runs to total.  

With the side in a spot of bother, Bali found a perfect foil in Manik and together they took the total to 178 runs. 

The duo was separated when Anand claimed Manik for 42 runs. 

Even as Goel kept the one end up and brought up his century, Chandigarh kept losing wickets at the other. 

Shashwat Sharma (0), Sandeep Nayak (13), Prithvi Prakash (0), Abhishek (2), Prateek (5) and Tavjyot (0) fell in quick succession and the hosts eventually folded up their innings on 303. Goel remained unbeaten on 161. 

Rahul was the most effective bowler for the visitors, claiming 4/31. Anand (3/91) and Prince Thakur (3/410 bagged three wickets each.  

At the draw of stumps, Ambala were struggling at 15/3. 

Skipper Bali claimed all the three wickets to fall in the Ambala innings.