Vishwash, Sardul in 153-run stand

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com
CHANDIGARH, JUNE 15
A brilliant 153-run partnership between openers captain Vishwash Bhalla and Sarul Kanwar helped Chandigarh post 324 for 4 in 86.2 overs in their first innings against Patiala on the first day of the four-day semi-final in the Punjab Inter-District Cricket Tournament for Katoch Shield at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today.
Chandigarh won the toss and elected to bat. Vishwash Bhalla and in-form batsman Sarul Kanwar stitched up an opening partnership of 153 runs in 42.1 overs before Vishwas Bhalla was bowled by Ankur Jund for 64 off 138 balls inclusive of 11x4s.
Both batsmen sent the Patiala bowlers on a leather hunt as they plundered runs by stroking the ball freely to all parts of the ground. Sarul kanwar who had earlier scored 135 against Kapurthala, 69 against Jalandhar and 120 against Mohali, went on to complete another punishing century (148) off 183 balls inclusive of 26 forcefully struck boundaries all round the wicket.
The Patiala bowlers who looked hapless before the rampaging willow of Sarul Kanwar heaved a sigh of relief when he was unfortunately run out with the team total reading 250 for 3 in 65.3 overs. His exit saw the Patiala bowlers regaining their guile so much that Chandigarh from a healthy position of 250 for 3 slumped to 324 all out in 86.2 overs.
The main damage was done by the pair of right arm leg spinner Sarabjit Singh Ladda and left arm spinner Rajwinder Golu who returned figures of 4 for 75 and 4 for 88 respectively. Sarul Kanwar with this 100 has an impressive average of 118. He alongwith another profilic scorer Amit Prashar (15) went on to record a 58-run partnership for the second wicket. Amit Prashar before this match had scored 215 against Kapurthala, 82 against Jalandhar, 230 against Mohali returning an impressive batting average of 135.2 .
Sarul Kanwar had another fruitful partnership of 39 runs for the 3rd wicket with Gurkirat Singh (26) before getting run out. Patiala in their reply scored 13 for no loss in 6 overs before close of play.
Brief scores: Chandigarh: 324 fo2 all out in 86.2 overs (Sarul Kanwar 148, Vishwas Bhalla 64, Gurkirat 26, Amit Prashar 15, Uday Kaul 15,
Sarabjit Ladda 4 for75, Rajwinder Gollu 4 for 88).
Patiala: 13 for no loss in 6 overs (Kunwar Raina batting 6, Ravi Inder batting 4).
In the second semi final played between Jalandhar and Amritsar at Gandhi Ground, Amritsar, Jalandhar after winning the toss elected to bat and scored 378 all out in 95 overs.
Their innings was propped up by opening batsman Satpal (60) off 105 balls inclusive of 9x4s and skipper Taruwar Kohli who hit a brilliant 158 off 234 balls inclusive of 20 well struck boundaries before he was caught by Harman Bajwa of the bowling of Bharat Lumba. This was the second century of Taruwar Kohli in the tournament having earlier scored 122 against Kapurthala.
He was associated in a third wicket stand of 162 runs with Robin Singh 73 off 124 balls embellished with 8 boundaries. Love Kumar Singh was the other batsman to make a notable contribution of 43 off 46 balls inclusive of 5 boundaries and one six before he was caught and bowled by left arm spinner Lakshay Seth who returned impressive analysis of 32-3-124-4. He was ably supported by right arm medium pacer Bharat Lumba who claimed 4 for 65.
Both the matches will be resume tomorrow at Chandigarh and Amritsar respectively.
Brief scores: Jalandhar: 378 for all out in 95 overs
(Satpat 60, Taruwar Kohli 158, Robin Singh 73, Luv Kumar singh 43, Bharat Lumba 4 for 66, Lakshay Seth 4 for 124, Manish Bhatia 1 for 32).