Suryansh’s ton helps J&K register 4-wkt victory over Punjab

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31 

A cracking 70-ball century by Suryansh Raina helped Jammu & Kashmir register a four-wicket win against Punjab in the Men’s U-23 One-Day Limited Overs tie today.

After winning the toss, Jammu & Kashmir skipper Jiyaad Magrey put Punjab in to bat. Despite a good start, Punjab managed to post just 206/9 in the allotted 39 overs. Openers Mandeep Bawa and Maninder Singh raised a 42-run partnership. 

The stand was broken by Nasir Muzaffar as he dismissed Maninder (16). Thereafter, Sanvir Singh joined Bawa and the duo raised a 39-run stand for the second wicket. Bawa got to 36 off 53 balls before he was dismissed by Abhishant Bakshi.

Sanvir went on to contribute an unbeaten 94 off 92 balls, with 11 boundaries and two sixes, but could not find support from any other batsman. Ramandeep Singh (2), Mayank Sidhu (8), Abhinav Sharma (2), Ikjot Thind (8), Abhishek Bajaj (1), Gourav Choudhary (6) and Arshdeep Singh (4) couldn’t contribute much to the total. Imtiyaz Ganai (4/37) was the star bowler for Jammu & Kashmir sole, while Lone Muzaffar and Abhishant Bakshi claimed two wickets each. Saksham Sharma claimed one wicket.

In reply, Jammu & Kashmir scored 212/6 in 37.2 overs to win the match by four wickets. The opening pair of Abhishant Bakshi and Magrey raised a 42-run partnership before the former fell to Abhinav Sharma for 24. Magrey was then joined by Raina but they could add only 10 runs to the total. Gourav Choudhary accounted for Magrey (28) as the team’s total read 58 runs. 

Jammu & Kashmir lost Henan Malik (14), Vivrant Sharma (25) and Muneeb Munaf (0) but Raina stayed at the crease and completed his 100 off 79 balls, with 12 boundaries and one six, taking the team past the finish line. Ikjot Thind claimed 2/45, while Abhinav (1/45), Choudhary (1/34) and Abhishek Bajaj (1/14) took one wicket each for Punjab. Meanwhile, Chandigarh will face Assam in their opening encounter of the tournament on November 1.

Brief scores

• J & K vs Punjab (J & K Won by 4 Wickets)
• J & K: 212/6 in 38.1 overs (Suryansh Jagdish Chander Raina 100; Imtiyaz Ahmad Nazir Ahmad Ganai 4/37)
• Punjab: 206/9 in 39 overs (Sanvir Sukhdev Singh 94 runs; Ikjot Singh Thind 2/4)