Mayank’s ton helps Mohali clinch Dhruv Pandove Trophy
Tribune News Service
Mohali, June 17
In form Mayank Sidhu crafted a masterly 140 and shared a 115-run stand for the eighth wicket with Akash Dhari to help hosts Mohali beat Ludhiana on the basis of first innings lead and lift the Dhruv Pandove Trophy at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium here today.
Sidhu, who walked into the middle with the hosts still needing 178 to surpass Ludhiana's first innings total of 489, continued his rich vein of form to resurrect the team's dwindling fortunes.
The wicketkeeper batsman stitched a 75-run partnership with skipper Taranpreet Singh for the seventh wicket before joining hands with Dahri to ensure the team's success.
With the hosts struggling at 311 for six, the skipper, who had finished the third day on unbeaten 102, wanted someone to hold the other and Sidhu did not disappoint. He mixed caution with aggression to put the pressure back on Ludhiana bowlers and guide his team past 350 before the visitors struck back with the wicket of Taranpreet on 386.
The captain was caught by Vaibhav Kalra off Anmol Sharma just after he completed his 150. His dismissal brought a resolute Dhari to the crease and together with Sidhu he steered the team to 501.
The tail-ender contributed a valuable 71 to the total, including 10 fours and two sixes, before falling prey to Nehal Wadera.
After Dhari's departure, Sidhu broke free, scoring 54 runs of 33 balls to race to 140. He was finally stumped by Mohit Singh to give Wadera his second wicket of the match on 566.
Sidhu's 221-ball inning was studded with 16 hits to the fence and a couple of sixes.
Earlier, resuming at 280 for 4, Mohali lost overnight centurion Vishu Kashyap fort the addition of just five runs. He was trapped in front by Rahul Khanna on 110.
Siddarth Rawat was cleaned up by Deepin Chitkara six runs later to leave the hosts tottering at 311 for 6.
Brief scores
Ludhiana 489 (Gurjot Singh 253 not out, Harnoor Singh 91; Akash Dahri 4/144, Vishu Kashyap 2/23) draw with Mohali 566/9 (Taranpreet Singh 150, Mayank Sidhu 140; Rahul Khanna 2/50, Nehal Wadera 2/52)
