Skipper goes for duck again, city lose to Saurashtra in last Ranji tie
Chandigarh faced five defeats in seven matches during tournament
Playing at their home ground, Chandigarh batters batted twice but failed to even come close to the total raised by five top-order batsmen of Saurashtra, as the local team ended their Ranji Trophy season on a losing note. The city lost by an innings and 56 runs in the match played at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium.
In their first innings, Saurashtra posted 453/3, and Chandigarh lads replied with 136. Put to follow-on, Chandigarh batters failed miserably and surrendered at 261.
Resuming from no loss, Chandigarh openers Shivam Bhambri and Arjun Azad started steadily. The duo raised an 81-run stand for the opening wicket, before Chirag Jani trapped Bhambri for 48. Soon after this wicket, Azad (32off 63 balls) was caught by Parth Bhut off Chetan Sakariya. Just like first innings, Chandigarh skipper Manan Vohra went back to the pavilion without opening his account off Jani, while Vaibhav Narang played some sensible cricket with Arjit Singh, as they pushed the total to 144.
The duo was well settled and were tackling the situation well, but first innings hero and Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat provided the team the breakthrough. He accounted Arjit (22off 56 balls) to end the 63-run partnership. DA Jadeja then trapped Narang (47 off 92 balls, with eight boundaries) as the city team was reduced to 156/5. As the team’s downfall started, Raj Angad Bawa started rebuilding the confidence and went on to hammer 55 off 40 balls, with four boundaries and as many sixes. However, he failed to extend his run, as Jani stopped him in the 59th over. With a mere formality left, Jani accounted Vishu (9), while Jadeja came heavily to trap Jagjit Singh Sandhu (15), Nishunk Birla (0) and Karthik Sandil (1). Rohit Dhanda posted an unbeaten 31 off 17 balls, with three boundaries and two sixes.
Chandigarh faced seven teams, and lost five matches. The team ended with eight points from one win and a draw. Notably, the defeats came by big margins against Maharashtra (by 144 runs), Punjab (by eight wickets), Karnataka (by an innings and 185 runs), against Saurashtra (by an innings and 56 runs) and against Goa (by an innings and 75 runs). The side played a draw against Madhya Pradesh, and won their only match (by an innings and 92 runs) against Kerala.
Not only on the field, but off the field Chandigarh gave a bad impression, after the team’s coach faced a disciplinary action for slapping his assistant coach in full public view during a touring match. The coach received a mere one-match ban, written apology and monetary fine for his actions.
Punjab gain lead
Playing at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium, Punjab lads gained a 112-run lead over Karnataka in the third and crucial day of the match.
The day’s play started with a delay, owing to weather conditions and Karnataka replied with 316 against Punjab’s 309. After initial setbacks, Shreyas Gopal (77), Vidyadhar Patil (34) and Kruthik Krishna (28) helped Karnataka score a minor lead. Harpreet Brar claimed 4/125, while Sukhdeep Bajwa accounted 3/42 for the bowling side. Anmoljeet picked two and Emanjot Singh Chahal claimed one for the bowing side.
The start to Punjab’s second innings also remained shaky, as Shikhar Sheety claimed Prabhsimran Singh (11). However, Abhijeet Garg (33 off 68) supported skipper Uday Saharan before falling prey to Gopal. Mohsin Khan accounted Jashanpreet Singh (5), as Saharan (63 off 110 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and Anmolpreet Singh (5) closed the day unbeaten at 119/3.
