7-star Sanvir takes Punjab into semis

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9 

A seven-wicket haul by all-rounder Sanvir Singh helped Punjab register a 73-run win over Uttarakhand and enter the semifinals of the Men’s Cricket U-23 One Day League and Knockout tournament at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. 

Sanvir returned with figures of 7/10 after Punjab were bowled out for 177 runs in 46.4 overs. 

Put in to bat, Punjab had a disastrous start to their innings as they lost half of their side for 53 runs. Openers Shivam Bhambri and Sanvir Singh made a guarded start, adding 17 runs in six overs before Pundir drew the first blood for Uttarakhand. Bhambri was castled after scoring 15 runs off 21 balls. 

Nine balls later, Pundir struck again, dismissing Ramandeep Singh for naught. Agrim Tiwari then sent back Sanvir (9) to rock Punjab early.   

Anmolpreet Singh (10) and Akul Pandove added 19 runs for the fourth wicket before Pradeep Chamoli trapped the former in front of wickets to reduce Punjab to 45/4.  

Ikjot Singh Thind did not last long either. He was consumed by Chamoli on one as Punjab were looking down the barrel at 53/5 in 20.1 overs.  

It was then left to Pandove and skipper Anmol Malhotra to resurrect the Punjab innings and put up a respectable total on board.  

The duo batted sensibly and added 69 runs for the sixth wicket to stretch the total to 122 runs before Harjeet Singh claimed Pandove on 45. 

Nikhil Chaudhary (10), Abhinav Sharma (12) and Harpreet Brar (0) fell in quick succession as Punjab slumped to 177/9. Malhotra was then caught by Dinesh Pawar off Chamoli on 55 as the side wrapped up their innings without any further addition to the total.  

Chamoli (3/19) and Pundir (3/33) claimed three wickets each for Uttarakhand, while Tiwari took 2/24.  

Needing to defend a modest total, Punjab bowlers came out all guns blazing and sent back both the Uttarakhand openers for 26 runs. While Vaibhav Bhatt was trapped in front by Arshdeep Singh on naught, Vishal was cleaned up by Ikjot Thind on 10.    

Sanvir then got into the act and removed Sagar (16), Dinesh Pawar (7), skipper Ajit Singh Rawat (36), Shobhit Sareen (0) and Kartik (17) to reduce Uttarakhand to 89/7. 

Brar claimed Pundir on zero before Sanvir cleaned up the tail to wrap the Uttarakhand innings on 104 runs. Tiwari was dismissed on zero, while Chamoli fell on one. Harjeet remained not out on 13. 

Brief scores

Punjab 177 all out in 46.4 overs (Anmol Malhotra 55, Akul Pandove 45; Pradeep Chamoli 3/19, Pundir 3/33) beat Uttarakhand 104 all out in 32.5 over (Ajit Singh Rawat 36, Kartik 17; Sanvir Singh 7/10)