Punjab in control on Day 1

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 8 

Punjab bowlers struck in unison to bundle out Tripura for 120 runs in their first innings before Akul Pandove and skipper Anmol Malhotra stitched an unbeaten 57-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help hosts take a 17-run lead on the opening day of their Col CK Nayudu Trophy match at Dhruv Pandove Stadium in Patiala on Saturday.   

At the draw of stumps, Punjab were batting on 137/4 with Pandove unbeaten on 47 and Malhotra not out on 20. 

Earlier, opting to bat first, Tripura had a disastrous start to their innings as they lost four wickets for just 28 runs. 

Opener JT Saha was the first to go, trapped in front by Ikjot Singh Thind on naught. Wicketkeeper-batsman AA Sinha added just six runs to the total before falling prey to Arshdeep Singh. Skipper RA Dey (3) and DB Debbarman (5) did not last long either.  

RN Saha and SA Gan then tried to resurrect the Tripura innings, but once Harpreet Brar dismissed the former on 36 the visitors lost their remaining five wickets for the addition of just 48 runs to close their innings at 120 runs.      

Gan made 23 while Neeambuj Vats chipped in with 20 runs. 

Akul Pandove was the most effective bowler for the hosts, claiming 3/20 in 9.1 overs. Arshdeep, Ikjot and Harpreet Brar bagged two wickets each.  

Punjab, in reply, lost opener Mansab Gill on 10. He was castled by Arjun Debnath for four runs. Shivam Bhambri was sent back by Vats on 19, while Himanshu Sharma fell to Debnath on 20 as the hosts slumped to 51/3 inside 14 overs. 

Nikhil Chaudhary (28) and Pandove added 29 runs for the fourth wicket before Gan struck for the visitors nearly 10 overs later.  

Pandove then in company of Malhotra steadied the Punjab innings and took the total to 137/4 before the end of the first day’s play.