Jalandhar snatch 34-run lead over Chandigarh

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 22
Jalandhar gained a crucial 34-run first-innings lead over Chandigarh on the second day of the four-day final of Punjab Inter-District Cricket Tournament for Katoch Shield being played at the PCA Stadium, in Mohali today.
Chandigarh received an early setback when their proflic scorer opener Sarul Kanwar, who had earlier hit three centuries in the tournament, was snapped up by wicketkeeper Abhishek while chasing a wayward delivery of medium pacer Amrinder Sodhi on an individual score of six and the team score reading 10.
The other opener skipper Vishwas Bhalla was joined by Amit Prashar. They carried the total 250 when Prashar was caught by Robin Singh of the bowling of medium pacer Navdeep Singh for 22. Gurkirat Walia joined his skipper and both took the total to 72 when Vishwas Bhalla was embroiled in a mix up with Gurkirat Walia and was brilliantly run out by Pargat Singh for 28. At this stage south paw Uday Kaul joined Gurkirat Walia and the duo stitched a fourth wicket partnership of 202 runs before Uday Kaul was adjudged leg before wicket to right arm leg spinner Rahul Sharma for a well made century (108) off 145 balls laced with 7x4s and a huge six .
Gurkirat Walia was joined by Anupam Gambhir and the two took the total to 323 and adding 45 runs for the fifth wicket before Gurkirat Walia holed out to Navdeep Singh in the deep while trying to hoist leg spinner Rahul Sharma out of the ground. Gurkirat Walia in the process scored a business like century 131 off 208 balls studded with 9x4s and a effortless six. Anupam Gambhir remained unbeaten on (4x4s). He was associated in a seventh wicket stand of 45 runs with Anshul Tripathi (25).
Chandigarh were sitting pretty at 384 for 7 in 89.2 overs when right arm leg spinner Rahul Sharma picked up three quick wickets and terminated the Chandigarh innings at 400 in 93.1 overs. Rahul Sharma who almost bowled unchanged during the innings returned flattering figures of 38.1 overs one maiden 165 runs and 6 wickets.
Earlier, Jalandhar had made 434 for 4 in 95 overs.
With a slender 34 runs first innings lead Jalandhar have a slight edge over Chandigarh but with full two days play still to come the final match holds exciting prospects for both the teams. An interesting feature of the Mohali wicket this has been the domination of batsman over bowlers unlike the earlier years when fast bowlers used to thrive on the Mohali track.
The match will resume tomorrow at 7.00 am.