Vashisht's hat-trick helps city reduce Karnataka to 42/3

Chandigarh’s Jayant Vashisht took the first hat-trick of the season to put Karnataka on the back foot during the opening day of the Cooch Behar Trophy at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 26. In reply to Chandigarh’s 272 runs, the visitors posted 42/3 at the draw of stumps. Earlier, Chandigarh won the toss and decided to bat first.

Despite a valiant start of 181/2, Chandigarh boys failed to score big and collapsed at 272 in 77.5 overs. Despite this, opener and skipper Balraj Singh (117 off 214 balls, with nine boundaries and six sixes) maintained a good composure. Abhimanyu made 56 off 83 balls (with eight boundaries and one six), and Ranvijay Singh added 49 off 61 balls, with seven boundaries and one six. Kartikeya KP (6/55) was the pick of the bowlers, while Dheeraj Gowda (3/77) remained the second highest wicket taker.

In reply, Sanmay Rudraawadi (13) remained unbeaten at the end of the day for Karnataka, while Vashisht took wickets of Shivam Singh (7), Karthikeya KP (0) and captain Dheeraj Goda (0) to reduce Karnataka to 42/3 before the stumps were drawn. The visiting side is still trailing by 230 runs.