Nipun shines as city team bags three points against Patiala

Chandigarh, April 28 

Nipun Sharda came up with a brilliant 97-run (including nine boundaries and two sixes) contribution as city colts bagged three points, on the basis of a 145-run lead against Patiala, in the Punjab Inter-district Cricket Championship for Dhruv Pandove Trophy, on Sunday.  

Winning the toss and opting to bat, the city boys declared their innings at 366/8 in 95 overs. Openers Ishan Goyal and Harnoor Pannu raised a 78-run partnership for the first wicket. Pannu was the first to go after scoring 30 runs. Thereafter, Goyal (64 off 114 balls, with five boundaries and one six) also left soon. Sharda (97 off 149 balls, Surya Narayan (76 off 88 balls, with 13 boundaries and a six) and Askhit Rana (43 off 46 balls) then took the charge to achieve the 366 mark. Sanveer Singh (3/70) was the main wicket taker for the bowling side, whole Harjeet Singh (2/68) also claimed wickets. 

In reply, Patiala boys were bowled out for 221 runs in 80.2 overs. Raj Angad Bawa (3/33), Harnoor Pannu (3/29) and Harshit (3/73) claimed equal share of wickets, while Gursukhan claimed 1/46. Fatehveer Singh's 104 runs off 227 balls, studded with 10 boundaries and two sixes, went in vain. Deepak Kumar (29) and Haren Goel (28) were the other two main scorers for the side. 

Mohali win by an innings and 26 runs

Mohali also registered an innings and 26 runs win against Bathinda.  Batting first, Bhatinda were bowled out for 133 runs in 55.3 overs. Jashan Jindal (24) and Raiman Verma (26) were the two notable contributors for the side. Anshul Negi returned with 4/18, while Harshdeep (3/31) and Jashanpreet (2/32) were the two other main wicket takers. 

Chasing a low total, Mohali declared their innings at 295/5 in 67 overs. Opener Manav Malhotra smashed 154 off 197 balls, with 19 boundaries and a six, to set up the tone for Mohali. Anshul Negi (45) and Anshul Chowdhry (43) were the other run getters. Jasan Jindal (3/34) bagged three wickets for the bowling side. Trailing by 162 runs, Bathinda boys again failed and were bowled out for 135 in 66.3 overs. Uday Pratap (46) and Jasan Jindal (23) were the only two batsmen who crossed the double figure marks for the side. Ashwini (3/11) was the leading wicket taker, while Jashanpreet (3/27), Harshdeep (2/22), Harry DHaliwal (1/14) and Anshul Negi (1/33) shared the spoils for the bowling side.

Ldh-Asr share points 

Amritsar boys bagged three points on the basis of the first innings lead from a draw against Ludhiana at Jathedar Santokh Singh Margind Sports Stadium, Dulay village (Phallai Sahib). In reply to Amritsar's first innings score of 291/6 in 95 overs, Ludhiana, despite fine batting by Jaskaran Vir (60) and Harman Preet (31), bowled out on 180 runs in 77.4 overs. —TNS