Akul ton saves the day for Punjab

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9 

Akul Pandove scored an unbeaten ton to help Punjab score 282/6 against hosts Andhra Pradesh after the visitors were struggling at 97/5 on the opening day of their Col CK Nayudu Trophy match at the Rural Development Trust Stadium in Ananthapur on Wednesday. 

Electing to bat, Punjab lost opener Abhijeet Garg and Himanshu Sharma for nine runs. Garg’s woes with the bat continued as he was castled by skipper Karthik Raman on two. Sharma became Raman’s second victim when he was trapped by the speedster in front of wickets on zero. 

Mansab Gill battled 32 balls for his 11 before he was cleaned up by Vinay. 

Ramandeep Singh and Pandove then got together and took the total 96 runs. The duo was separated when the former was dismissed by A Vinaykumar on 48.   

Five balls later, skipper Anmol Malhotra fell to a needless run out, leaving the visitors tottering at 97/5. 

Pandove then in company of Nikhil Chaudhary added 127 runs for the sixth wicket and took the total to 224. The partnership was broken when Chaudhary was caught by Maheep Kumar off Vinay on 63.

Pandove, however, held the fort from one end and brought up his century in 75th over of the day.  At the close of day’s play, he was batting on 106 and giving him company at the other end was Kashish Panseja on 39. 

Imandi Karthik Raman (2/45) and Vinay (2/73) claimed two wickets each for the hosts.

Brief scores

Punjab 282/6 (Akul Pandove 106*, Nikhil Chaudhary 63; Imandi Karthik Raman 2/45, Vinay 2/73) versus Andhra Pradesh