Tavleen, Ayush guide Chandigarh into final

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, June 1 

Tavleen Singh and Ayush Gautam scored a half-century each on the last day of the semifinal to help Chandigarh gain a 140-run lead over Patiala and ease into the U-19 Dhruv Pandove Trophy final, at IS Bindra PCA Stadium here on Friday. 

In the final, scheduled to be held at the PCA Stadium from June 3, Chandigarh will Amritsar, which registered a 388-run victory over hosts Jalandhar at the Burlton Park on Friday.

Resuming at overnight 201/3, Chandigarh were in a spot of bother after they lost Saksham Gupta (14) and Ayush Sikka (5) in quick succession to slump to 251/5. However, Gautam, who was not out on 31 yesterday, found an able ally in Tavleen and together they raised a 73-run stand to surpass the Patiala’s first innings total of 312 runs.

The duo was separated when Deepak Kumar claimed Gautam eight runs short of century. Gautam’s 187-ball knock was studded with 12 boundaries. 

Tavleen, though, kept one end up and stitched another 78-run partnership with Suryanarain to take the total past the 400-run mark. 

Suryanarain was dismissed by Ayush Ranjan after defiant 32-run knock.

Tavleen was the last wicket to fall, caught by Nimit Sharma off Aryaman for 95 runs.

Raj Angad Bawa scored an unbeaten 22, while Harshit Singh returned not out on one as Chandigarh closed the play on 452/8; 140 runs ahead of Patiala.

Paras Jaidka (2/30), Tejpreet Singh (2/114) and Deepak Kumar (2/63) claimed two wickets each for Patiala.

Amritsar motor on

At Burlton Park, hosts Jalandhar suffered a humiliating 388-run defeat against Amritsar in the semifinals after they were dismissed for 78 runs in their second innings while chasing a victory target of 467 runs.

Resuming the day at 269/6, Amritsar declared their innings closed at 367/ 9 after Salil Arora smashed run-a-ball 170. 

Arora, who was unbeaten on 140 yesterday, stitched a 144-run partnership with Mukesh before being dismissed by Aryan Mehra. Mukesh was run out after scoring 74 runs.  

Kunwar Kukreja was the most successful bowler for the hosts, claiming 3/119. 

Chasing 467 runs in 70 overs for victory, Jalandhar once again fell to the guile of Dipanshu Chadha. The left-arm spinner, who had picked 6/32 in Jalandhar’s first innings, claimed another six-for to bundle out the hosts for 78 runs.

Jalandhar had made 139 runs in their first innings.