Manan, Bhambri derail Jalandhar bowling attack

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23

Local star Manan Vohra hit a brilliant 164 on the first day of a match against Jalandhar during the Punjab State Inter-District Cricket Championship for the Katoch Shield at FC Sondhi Ground, Jalandhar, today. After winning the toss, Chandigarh’s skipper Siddharth Kaul elected to bat first and his decision proved correct when openers Manan Vohra and Shivam Bhambri posted 250 runs for the first wicket in 69.5 overs. The stand was broken when spinner Raghu Sharma claimed Shivam’s wicket. Shivam made 93, inclusive of 11 boundaries and two sixes.

However, his partner Manan Vohra continued to dominate the proceedings and went on to hammer 164 off 260 balls, studded with 16 boundaries and one six, before being caught by skipper Taruwar Kohli off medium pacer Tejinder Singh. Gurkirat Walia remained unbeaten on 23 while Gaurav Puri made unbeaten 7. The city team posted 308 for 2 in 90 overs. For Jalandhar, Tejinder Singh (1 for 56) and Raghu Sharma (1 for 18) were the successful bowlers.

Brief score

Chandigarh (first innings): 308 for 1 in 90 overs (Manan Vohra 164, Shivam Bhambri 93; Tejinder Singh 1 for 56 and Raghu Sharma 1 for 18).

Mohali, Amritsar match evenly poised

In the second match of the tournament at the Sector 16 stadium in Chandigarh, Mohali were bowled out for 258 runs by Amritsar. Amritsar scored 102 till the end of the day’s play. The decision to bat first, could not prove right for Mohali after opener Shubman Gill was castled by Jatin Sagar without adding a single run to the team’s tally. Other opener Manul Jain was snapped by Arush Sabharwal off Abhinav Sharma for 3 and wicket-keeper Harsrup was snapped by Mohit Handa off Abhinav Sharma. Mohali were reduced to 14 for 3 in 5.2 overs. Thereafter, Uday Kaul and Mayank Sidana stitched a 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Mayank before getting out for 30 off 43 balls. While skipper Gurkirat Singh joined Uday Kaul and the two took the score past the 100 mark, off-spinner Charanjit Singh clean bowled Gurkirat Singh for 30 off 27 balls.

Kunal Mahajan too failed to contribute substantially as he was trapped in front by Charanjit Singh for 2, reducing Mohali to a 113 for 6 in 31 overs. However, medium pacer Jaskaran Singh joined southpaw Uday Kaul and the duo mustered 117 runs for the seventh wicket before Jaskaran was caught by Charanjit Singh off Abhinav Sharma for 52. Uday Kaul continued a good show before being caught by Shivluv off Ashwani Kumar on 117 off 184 balls. Mohali’s innings ended on 258 in 60.3 overs. Abhinav Sharma (3 for 46), Vinay Chaudhary (2 for 79) and Charanjit Singh (2 for 36) were the main wicket takers for Amritsar.

In reply, Amritsar started on a shaky note as the team lost first three wickets for 15 runs. Opener Rohan Marwaha was caught in the slips by Mayank Sidana off left-arm seamer Barinder Saran for 2 while Shivluv was caught by Mayank Sidana off Barinder Saran without opening his account.

Maninder Singh got out on 2. Thereafter, Navneet Singh and Sharad Lumba added 40 runs for the 4th wicket before Navneet was sent to the pavilion by spinner Varun Khanna for 24. At the end of the day’s play, Sharad Lumba was unbeaten on 45 and Mohit Handa remained unbeaten on 20, taking the team’s total to 102 for 4 in 28 overs. For Mohali, Barinder Saran ( 2 for 38) Maninder Sidhu (1 for 24) and Varun Khanna (1 for 13) were main bowlers.

Brief score

Mohali: 258 all out in 60.3 overs (Uday Kaul 117, Mayank Sidana 30, Gurkirat Singh 30, Jaskaran Singh 52; Abhinav Sharma 3 for 46, Vinay Chaudhary 2 for 79 and Charanjit Singh 2 for 36).

Amritsar: 102 for 4 in 28 overs (Navneet Singh 24, Sharad Lumba 45 not out, Mohit Handa 20 not out).