Jalandhar gain 97-run lead over Amritssr

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 16
The second day’s semi-final play between Chandigarh and Patiala in the Punjab Inter-District Cricket Tournament for Katoch Shield was called off as early morning rains left the outfield slushy at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today. The umpires called off play at 3.00 p.m. Patiala will resume their innings tomorrow at 7.00 a.m.
In the second semi-final match being played at Amritsar, Jalandhar District snatched a vital 97-run first-innings lead against Amritsar. Amritsar in reply to Jalandhar’s total of 378 were bundled out for 299 in 90 overs.
Amritsar opened their innings with Manish Bhatia and Harmanjeet Bajwa who put on 29 runs for the first wicket before Manish Bhatia was caught by Taruwar Kohli of the bowling of medium pacer Navdeep Singh for 19. Navdeep struck for the second time when he had Rahul Matoo snapped up by wicket keeper Abhishek for 7 with the score reading 50.
At this stage Harmanjeet Bajwa was joined by Sumit Sharma and the two started the rescue act and were involved in a third wicket stand of 126 runs which was broken by spinner Yogesh Kumar when he forced Sumit Sharma into a false stroke and ended up in the safe hands of lanky Rahul Sharma at mid on for an individual score of 54 which was embellished with 8 boundaries and the team’s total reading 176 for 3.
Chandan Madan who joined Harmanjeet Singh Bajwa was associated in a 33- run fourth wicket stand before Harmanjeet Bajwa who had been batting patiently for 240 minutes suddenly lost his cool and was caught in the deep by Love Kumar while trying to heave right arm leg spinner Rahul Sharma. His innings of 94 of 175 balls was studded with 7 glorious 4s and two mighty sixes.
The spinning duo of Yogesh Kumar and Rahul Sharma got into the act and quickly removed Vipan Chauhan (5), Sharad Lumba (0) and Sandeep Sawal (5). Chandan Madan who scored 29 with 4x4s was the 7th batsman to get out at 219. Medium pacer Bharat Lumba and Tarun Sharma made a last minute charge to raise the team’s total 229. Bharat Lumba in the process scored a polished half century (54) of 88 balls inclusive of 5x4s and a towering six.
The bowling honours for Jalandhar were shared by Rahul Sharma (4/72), Yogesh Kumar (3/64) and Navdeep Singh (3 for 68). At the end of second day’s play Jalandhar at the second innings were 5 without loss in 3 overs with Satpal unbeaten on 1 and Pargat unbeaten on 4.
The match will resume tomorrow.
Brief scores: Jalandhar : 378 for all out in 95 overs.
Amritsar: 299 for all out in 90 overs (Harmanjeet Bajwa 94, Sumit Sharma 54, Bharat Lumba 54, Chandan Madan 29, Manish Bhatia 19, Tarun Sharma 13, Navdeep Singh 3 for 68, Rahul Sharma 4 for 72).