Punjab colts smell victory

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, December 9

Five Punjab batsmen hit half-centuries as the hosts gained 297-run lead over Odisha before declaring their first innings closed on 452/9 on the second day of their U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy match at Gandhi Grounds in Amritsar.

At the close of day’s play, the visitors were struggling at 40/2, with both their openers back in the hut.

While Swastik Samal fall to Prerit Dutta for eight, Kunal Mallick was dismissed by Mandeep Singh for seven runs.Pritam Jena was batting on five and Manas Nayak on 15 when the umpires called off the day. Earlier, resuming at overnight 82/0, Punjab openers Jagmeet Singh and Arjun Verma laid solid foundation with a 154-run stand for the opening wicket.

The duo was separated when Jagmeet was cleaned up by Pritam Jeena, two short of what could have been a well deserved century.

Verma, though, build another 104-run stand with Nehal Wadhera before he fell to a needless run out on 87.        

Twelve runs later, Wadhera was stumped by Kunal Mallick off Krishana Palai for 65.Deepin Chitkara scored a 66, while Jaish Jain remained unbeaten on 59 as the hosts piled on 452 runs in their first essay.