Pukhraj rescues hosts after a poor start

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9

Punjab opener Pukhraj Mann came to the rescue of the team by scoring a brilliant century against Baroda in the 7th All-India U-19 Invitational Cricket Tournament for Dhruv Pandove Trophy in Patiala.  

Mann scored 115 runs and was involved in a 187-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dipin Chitkara.

Deciding to bat first, Punjab were jolted by early shocks, losing rge first two wickets for 13 runs. Ishan Goyal and Arjun Azad contributed six runs each before returning to the pavilion. The hosts lost another wicket when Pahal Marathe accounted for Anshul Chaudhary (7) to reduce the side to 36/3 in 10.3 overs. 

Thereafter, Mann was joined by Chitkara and the duo started to reconstruct the innings. They scored 187 runs in 46 overs to take the team’s total to 223 in 56 overs.

Sumedh Dodia broke the partnership when he claimed Chitkara for 89 off 139 balls, studded with four boundaries and two sixes. Jaish Jain then came in and added 50 runs for the fifth wicket. Mann then fell to S Rawat after his 191-ball inning that included five boundaries and two sixes.

Jain and Salil Arora then added 59 runs for the sixth wicket, before Jain fell to Knit Patel for 22 off 52 balls. Punjab were 341/6 in 86 overs when the match was stopped due to rain. At the close of play, Arora was unbeaten on 76 off 91 balls, while Sumit Sharma was unbeaten on two.

N Patel, Ashutosh Aggarwal, Pahal Marathe, Dharmindera, Knit Patel , SN Ashwat scalped one wicket each for the bowling side.

Chhattisgarh struggling

At Government College, Rupnagar, table-toppers Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) restricted Chhattisgarh to 170/7 in a rain-hit opening day. Chhattisgarh opened with Ayush Pandey and Ved Vyas Sahu. The duo put 24 runs before Sahu was run out by Tripuresh for 14 off 53 balls. Karan Sharma joined Pandey and the duo added 48 runs for the second wicket. Karan was trapped in front by Tripuresh for 21 off 52 balls. 

Kibnoor Chhabra and Pandey then raised another small partnership of 29 runs for the third wicket to take the team’s total to 101 in 38.4 overs. Chhabra was stumped by BB Sahu off Pronkesh for six.

Chhattisgarh then lost three quick wickets and were reduced to 112/6 in 48.2 overs. Pandey was caught by Divyansh off Triprush after scoring 56 off 118 balls, with five boundaries and two sixes.

Parkash Shukla and Parvesh Dhar added 58 runs for the seventh wicket before Shukla was caught by S Baggad off Onkar Nath for 34 off 69 balls. Parvesh Dhar (33) and Binny Sammuel (0) were unbeaten at 170/7 when showers forced end of play. Prankesh (3/49) and Tripuresh (2/24) were the main wicket-takers.

UPCA score 173/9

In the third match, at the HR Saggi Cricket Ground, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) reached 173/9 against Mumbai at the end of day’s play. Aditya Sharma (79 off 153 balls, with 13 boundaries) was the top-scorer for the side. 

He was supported by Kritagya Singh (26). Medium pacers Uzar Khan (3/46), Zaid Khan (2/25) and Arjun Tendulkar (1/43) were among the wicket-takers.