Fiery Anshul, Deepanshu bowl Punjab to victory

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 21

Punjab bowlers struck in unison to help their side register a 50-run win over Karnataka in a Vinoo Mankad Trophy match at Kholvad Gymkhana Ground in Surat today. 

Defending a modest total, Punjab bowlers led by Deepanshu Chadha and Anshul Negi bundled out Karnataka for 172 runs in 43 overs. 

While Chadha returned with figures of 3/43, Negi took 3/31 in his 10 overs. Nehal Wadhera (2/21), Vashish Mehra (1/21) and Gursukhandeep Waraich (1/27) accounted for the remaining wickets.

Chasing 223 runs for victory, Karnataka lost opener Dhawal Kulkarni (5) early. However, Lochan Gowda and Macneil Noronha remained patient and stitched a 52-run partnership for the second wicket before Chadha broke through in the 15th over. Noronha was caught by Wadhera after facing 16 balls for his 14.

Skipper Shubhang Hegde then joined Gowda in the middle and together they stretched the total to 121 runs in the 25th over. The 58-run partnership between the two came to end after Gowda was dismissed by Negi on 67. 

Gowda’s wicket triggered a collapse as Karnataka lost their remaining seven wickets for the addition of just 51 runs. Hegde fell to Wadhera on 56.

Earlier, Punjab were in a spot of bother at 39/2 after skipper Salil Arora had opted to bat. 

Azam Nazar was the first to go, caught by Kruthik Krishna of Nishanth S on six, while Pukhraj Mann faced 41 balls for his 21 before he was cleaned up by Hegde.    

Skipper Arora and Wadhera looked set for a big partnership but impetuosity got the better of Wadhera. After hitting five fours to race to 22 runs, Wadhera holed out to Nishanth off Taha Khan as Punjab slipped to 76/3 in 21 overs. 

Arora though held the fort from one end and together with Vashish Mehra took the total to 162 runs before he was dismissed by Nishanth on 56. 

Viabhav Kalra then scored a solid 57 to help Punjab reach 222/8 in 50 overs. Mehra remained not out on 11.

Brief scores: Punjab 222/8 in 50 overs (Vaibhav Kalra 57, Salil Arora 56; Nishanth S 2/19, Paras Arya 2/34) beat Karnataka 172 all out in 43 overs (Lochan Gowda 67, Shubhang Hegde 56; Anshul Negi 3/31, Deepanshu Chadha 3/43)