Rupnagar in command on Day 1

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 17

Aditya, Manish Joshi and Mayank Gupta hit a half-century each to help Rupnagar score 277/4 against hosts Chandigarh on the opening day of the Punjab Inter-District Cricket Championship for ML Markan Trophy here on Tuesday.

Playing at Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, Aditya and Manish Joshi stitched a 132-run partnership for the second wicket, before Mayank Gupta closed the day with an unbeaten 80 to put the visitors on a firm footing.  

Aditya was caught by Rajbir in the slips off Harnoor after a sedate 193-ball 88, while Joshi felt to Arshnoor Singh Pannu on 58 (195 balls).

Mayank Gupta and Raju Kumar (33) then raised an unbeaten 102 for the fourth wicket to close the opening day’s play at 277/4.

Patiala all out for 215

At Dhruv Pandove Stadium in Patiala, hosts were bowled out for 215 runs in 78.4 overs against Bathinda.

Arshad Qureshi made an unbeaten 40, while Kabir Garg added 33 runs to the total.  

For Bathinda, Delove Goyal claimed 3/35, while Jashan Jindal (2/49) and Varun Duggal (2/25) picked two wickets each.

In reply, visitors were struggling on 42/2 in 23.3 overs after Harjas Singh (1/22) and Emanjot Singh (1/4) struck early for the hosts. 

Ludhiana in control

Jaskaran Bir and Saksham Vij stitched a 223-run partnership for the second wicket to  help Ludhiana score 315/2 on the opening day of their match against visitors Jalandhar at the PAU grounds. 

Batting first, Ludhiana lost their opening wicket on six but Vij and Jaskaran batted sensibly and to take their team to a commanding position.  

The partnership was broken when Vij was caught by K Dhananjay off Saurav Nahar for 86. 

Jaskaran, meanwhile, went on to complete his century and was batting on 184 at the draw of stumps. Giving him company at the other was Lovepreet on 36. 

Nahar (1/31) and Krish Bhagat (1/10) claimed a wicket each for Jalandhar.

Amritsar hold edge

Meanwhile, at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here, Amritsar restricted Mohali to a modest 217. 

Put in to bat, Mohali lost wickets at regular intervals to close their innings in 89.3 overs, even as Harshdeep Singh made a patient 65 off 148 balls. Yashdeep Singh added 43 runs to the total.

Manrup Singh led the Amritsar attack with a spell of 3/53, while Varun  (2/52), Anirudh (2/44) and Sagar Sawal (2/12) bagged two wickets each.

At the close of play, Amritsar were batting on 31/1.