Chandigarh smell victory

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

A day after Shivam Bhambri and skipper Manan Vohra came up with brilliant centuries, all-rounder Bipul Sharma cracked an unbeaten ton to help Chandigarh gain a massive 349-run first innings lead against Goa on the third day of their Ranji Trophy match at the Goa Cricket Association Academy in Porvorim today.

Resuming the day at 310/3, Chandigarh, in reply to Goa’s 251, declared their innings closed on 580/7. Sharma remained not out on 103 while Jaskarandeep stayed unbeaten on 28.

At the draw of stumps, Goa were struggling at 87/2 in their second innings. Sumiran Amonkar was batting on 21 and giving him company at the other end was Amulya Pandrekar on 6.

Earlier, the visitors added 14 runs to their overnight total before Bhambri was caught by wicketkeeper Smit Patel off medium pacer Lakshay Garg. Bhambri made 157 runs off 284 balls, including 17 fours and one six.

Ankit Kaushik, who was unbeaten on 4 yesterday, then in company of Sharma raised a 123-run partnership for the fifth wicket and took the Chandigarh total to 447 runs. The two were separated when Kaushik played a loose shot and was caught by Darshan Misal off skipper Amit Verma on 83.

The leg-spinner struck again, removing Jaskaranvir Singh for 6 runs.

Sharma, though, held the fort from the other end and together with Gurinder Singh added another 61 runs to the total before the latter was hit wicket off Verma on 33.

Veteran Sharma, meanwhile, brought up his century, and in company of Jaskarandeep took the total to 580 before Chandigarh skipper Manan Vohra declared the innings closed.

Goa, in their second innings, were in for an early trouble as they lost opener Aditya Kaushik to Jagjit Singh Sandhu for just 15 runs.

Sumiran Amonkar and wicketkeeper-batsman Smit Patel took the total to 79 runs before Gurinder brought an end to the 52-run partnership between the two. Patel faced 48 balls for his 40 before he was cleaned up by the medium pacer.

Goa 251 and 87/2 (Smit Patel 40, Sumiran Amonkar 21*; Gurinder Singh 1/8, Jagjit Singh Sandhu 1/23) vs Chandigarh 580/7 declared (Shivam Bhambri 157, Bipul Sharma 103*, Manan Vohra 102; Amit Verma 3/95, Suyash Prabhudessai 1/2)

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