Punjab take 231-run lead against Rest of India, Garv claims fifer
A five-wicket haul by Garv Kumar (5/36), ably supported by Krish Bhagat (3/38) and Ayush Goyal (2/29), put the Rest of India (ROI) in a tight spot against Punjab—the winner of Col CK Nayudu Trophy — in a match at IS Bindra PCA Stadium.
Batting first, Punjab posted 255 and bundled out the ROI at 115. In second innings, Punjab were 91/1 at stumps on the second day, claiming a 231-run lead. The ROI started their innings with Shikhar Mohan and Macneil HN. However, the latter was accounted by Goyal without making any contribution to the total. Aaradhya Yadav (9) was trapped in front of wickets by Goyal.
Kumar took the charge and accounted Mohan (33 off 66 balls), Pragnesh Kanpillewar (9), skipper Sameer Rizvi (11), Vicky Ostwal (1) and Himanshu Singh (15) to complete his five-wicket haul. Bhagat also chipped in to claim Vedant Murkar (5), Piyush Dahiya (22) and Jay Malusare (1) to restrict the visitors to 115.
In reply, the hosts lost opener Jaskaranvir Singh Paul for a duck. However, Harnoor Singh (57 off 100 balls) and skipper Uday Saharan (30 off 95 balls) raised an unbeaten 91 runs stand for the second wicket. In the first innings, Salil Aora (60 off 87 balls, with 10 boundaries and a six) along with Ridham Satyawan (41 off 92 balls) helped the side post 255. Goyal (29) also contributed to the total. Himanshu Singh (5/57), Piyush Dahiya (3/56) and Malsare (1/32) and A Sharma (1/66) claimed wickets for the bowling side. This is the first time that the BCCI has introduced a tournament where the Col CK Nayudu U-23 Trophy winners will take on the ROI team on the lines of Irani Trophy where Ranji Trophy winners clash with the ROI squad.
Former India cricketer VRV Singh is the Punjab team head coach, while Hrishikesh Kanitkar has taken charge of the ROI outfit, which is led by Sameer Rizvi.
