Punjab escape with a draw

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6 

A timely unbeaten century by Salil Arora (110) helped Punjab to avert a direct defeat against hosts Madhya Pradesh in the ongoing Cooch Behar Trophy U-19 at MPCA Cricket Ground,  Sagar, on Thursday. 

Punjab managed to pull off one-point from the outing, despite being pushed to follow-on in the first innings, while Madhya Pradesh claimed three. Arora’s timely ton rescued Punjab to end the last day on 319/8. Resuming from their overnight total of 57/3, Punjab lads had a shaky start. They lost overnight batsman Nehal Wadhera, after he was claimed by Adheer Pratap Singh, on team’s total of 64. 

Thereafter, Deepin Chitkara joined Anshul Chaudhary and the duo somehow pushed the total to 88. However, Prankesh Rai accounted for Chitkara (14 off 27 balls) to reduce the side further to 88/5. 

From here, Arora joined Chaudhary and the duo started reviving the innings. They raised a 99-run partnership for the sixth wicket to take the total to 187.

However, Rai came to the rescue of the hosts. He claimed Chaudhary (69 off 150 balls, with five boundaries and a six), followed by the wicket of Jaish Jain (16) to reduce the side to 214/7. While Arora continued to stand tall against the host attack, he found an able partner in the form of Yuvraj Choudhary. The duo raised another important 89-run stand for the eight wicket to push the total to 312. Nath Singh claimed Choudhary on 46 off 89 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes. Thereafter, till the final ball of the day, Arora handled the situation well in order to least confirm one-point in the kitty of Punjab. He left unbeaten on 110 off 181 balls, with nine boundaries and a six. Rai was the most successful bowler as he claimed 5/72, while Adheer (2/98) and Omkar (/46) were the other main wicket takers for the hosts.