Punjab stare at defeat

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 5

Punjab colts were in a spot of bother as they lost three quick wickets to slip to 57/3 in their second innings against hosts Madhya Pradesh on the third and penultimate day of their Cooch Behar Trophy match after being asked to follow on. 

Playing at the MPCA Cricket Ground in Sagar, Punjab, while chasing Madhya Pradesh's first innings total of 453 runs, were all out for 291 and were asked to follow on by the hosts.    

Trailing the hosts by 162 runs, Punjab lost Pukhraj Mann, Arjun Azad and Sumit Sharma before the day's play.

While Azad was dismissed by Adheer Pratap Singh on 10, Mann was trapped in front by Prankesh Rai on 37. Sharma returned to the hut without troubling the scorer.   

With the side still trailing by 105 runs, the visitors will need to dig deep to save the match on the final day.  

Earlier resuming the day at 22/1, Punjab lost Anshul Chaudhary without any addition to the total. He was caught by Rahul Chandrol off Omkar Nath Singh on zero.

Pukhraj Mann and Nehal Wadhera then added 48 runs for the third wicket before the hosts struck through Prankesh Rai. Wadhera edged one to wicketkeeper Rahul Chandrol on 31.  

Amit Shukla (7) and skipper Dipin Chitkara (0) as the visitors slumped to 104/5. Mann, who was holding the other end up, then found and able ally in wicketkeeper-batsman Salil Arora and the two stretched the total 161 runs before Nirankar Sharma got rid of the latter on 41.

Jaish Jain added two runs to the total before being consumed by Adheer Pratap Singh. The spinner struck once again, this time removing a set Mann on 76.

With the side tottering at 177/8, Sumit Sharma and Yuvraj Chaudhary got into the act and added 91 runs for the ninth wicket to give some respectability to the Punjab total. Sharma finally fell to Adheer Pratap on 49.  

Ketan Mankotia (1) was the last batsman to fall in the visitors' innings. Chaudhary remained unbeaten on 68.

Adheer was the most effective bowler for the hosts, claiming 3/62. Omkar (2/74), Ishan Afridi (2/42) and Prankesh (2/70) got two wickets each.

Madhya Pradesh had earlier rode on a patient 109 by skipper Rishabh Chouhan to put up a challenging total on board.