Showers disturb exciting cricket matches

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 13

Unexpected showers on Monday afternoon pushed Chandigarh-Sikkim match towards a draw in the ongoing Ranji Trophy Plate Group match, at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, today. In reply to Sikkim’s first innings total of 264 runs, the hosts posted 360 runs to garner a 96-run lead. The visitors meanwhile were playing at 69/3, when the showers hit the proceedings and halted the match.

Earlier, resuming from overnight 338/8, the city loads scored 360 runs. Shreshth Nirmohi and Jagjit Singh Sandhu opened the innings for the hosts today. The duo raised a 21-run partnership for the 9th wicket, before Sandhu (13) fell when he was trapped lbw by Iqbal Abdulla. Anirudh Kanwar joined Nirmohi and the duo pushed the total further by raising a 13-run partnership. However, Abdulla struck again and accounted for Nirmohi (17 off 35 balls). Kanwar left unbeaten for 2. Ishwar Chaudhary (4/105) and Abdulla(4/89) were the two main bowlers for Sikkim, while Lee Lepacha accounted for one wicket.

Just like their previous innings, Sikkim again had a shaky start as they lost first three wickets for 23. Nirmohi was right away in action as he claimed Bibek (0) and Jahan (9), while Sandhu accounted for Puran (1). Asish Thapa (29 off 77 balls, with six boundaries) and Yashpal (30 off 53 balls, with five boundaries) were playing when the match was stopped by rain.

Sehbaaz shines in Cooch Behar for Chandigarh

Defending 184-runs first innings lead, the city lads reduced Goa at 86/6 in their Cooch Behar match before the rain halted the proceedings, at GMSSS (Sector 26). Sehbaaz SIngh was the star of the day as he claimed 4/29 to trouble the visitors. The visitors lost half of their batsmen for 19 runs. Sehbaaz accounted for the wickets of Gauresh Kambli (2), Deep Kasvnakar (0), Ayush Verlekar (5) and Mohit Redkar (13), while Rajangad Bawa claimed Faaiz (0) and Piysu Yadav (4) to done rest of the damages to the visitors. Skipper Kaushal Hattangadi, who scored a century in the first innings, stood tall again and left unbeaten for 53 off 83 balls, studded with six boundaries and one six, along with Yogesh Kauthankar (4) for Goa.