Punjab batsmen falter, advantage Bengal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 17

Punjab got off to a poor start in their Ranji Trophy tie against Bengal here today. Electing to bat, the hosts were bowled out for a paltry 147. The visitors, in reply, were 76 for no loss at the close of play.

On a sunny day, the Punjab batsmen struggled against the new ball. Except for a promising Shubman Gill, who scored a scintillating 63, no other batsman showed the discipline to negotiate the Bengal attack.

Medium pacer B Amit (3/31) and left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik (3/41) were the wreckers-in-chief for the visitors. Complementing the good work done by their bowlers, the Bengal openers, Abhishek Raman (42*) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (33*) ensured Punjab finished the day without picking up a wicket.

Pant, Rana prop up Delhi

New Delhi: Rishabh Pant and Nitish Rana resurrected Delhi’s innings after initial setbacks, helping the side finish the day at 260/4. Maharashtra had Delhi in a spot of bother by reducing them to 55/3, but Pant (99) and Rana (110*) pulled the side out of trouble. Pant smashed six sixes in his 110-ball knock. He was caught in the slips off Chirag Khurana just one run short of his ton. Rana, however, went on to complete his century. “We have a great understading off the field too,” Pant said about his equation with Rana. “That explains why we have been involved in so many partnerships.” Only 62 overs could be bowled due to weather interruptions. 

Ranji Trophy: Brief Scores 

• Punjab  147 (Shubhman Gill 63, Pradipta Pramanik 3/41, B Amit 3/31);  Bengal 76/0 (Abhishek  Raman 42*, Abhimanyu Easwaran 33*) 
• Delhi  260/4 (Nitish Rana 110*, Rishabh Pant 99; Chirag Khurana 2/71) vs Maharashtra 
• Haryana: 119/7 (Himanshu Rana 35; Mohammed Mudhasir 4/34; Ram Dayal 3/35) vs J&K