CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 08, 2019: Punjab Cricket Club and the PCA Colts recorded handsome victories against their opponents in the quarter-finals of the 25th All-India JP Atray Cricket Tournament here today. Punjab Cricket Club routed holders Food Corporation of India, Delhi by 111 runs while PCA Colts defeated Minerva Cricket Academy by 119 runs.
In semi-finals slated for tomorrow PCA Colts will face Baroda (1) at Sector 16 Stadium and PCC will cross swords with Air India Delhi at GMSS School, Sector 26.
Riding on a brilliant ton by India International Gurkeert Mann, PCC steamrolled the FCI attack by recording an impressive score of 318 for 6 in 50 overs at New PCA Stadium, Mullanpur. Winning the toss and opting to bat first Punjab opened with Prabhjot Singh and Abhishek Sharma and the duo put on 40 runs for the first wicket before Prabhjot Singh was caught by Mayank Sidana off Kuldeep Yadav for 11 off 23 balls with one boundary.
Sharad Lumba was then trapped in front by Yogesh for 11 and Abhishek Sharma was also cleaned up by Yogesh for 60 off 49 balls studded with 7 boundaries and one six. Skipper Mandeep Singh who scored a century in the previous match was unfortunately run out for 18. Thereafter Gurkeerat Mann and Arush Sabharwal got together to stitch a partnership of 136 runs in 23 overs to take the teams total to 259 for 5 in 45.3 overs.
The partnership was broken when Arush Sabharwal was caught by Jas Batra off Sumit Mathur for 48 off 61 balls inclusive of 2 boundaries. Gurkeerat Mann who was controlling the game from one end went on to smash a brilliant century (124) off 107 balls studded with 11 boundaries and 3 lofty sixes before being castled by Sumit Mathur. For FCI Yogesh Sharma 2 for 54, Sumit Mathur 2 for 79, Kuldeep Yadav 1 for 70 were the most successful bowlers.
Replying last year champions FCI Delhi lost their opener Shubham Ghauhan when he was caught by substitute Anil off Sandeep Sharma. Nitin Saini their mainstay in the tournament was run out by Mandeep for 11 while Paras Dogra was snapped by Sandeep off Mandeep for 3.
Mayank Sidana and Sumit Mathur tried to retrieve the lost ground for their team as they cobbled up 78 runs partnership for the 6th wicket before Sumit Mathur was castled by off spinner Akul Partap Pandove for 57 off 85 balls with 2 boundaries and one six while Mayank Sidana was caught and bowled by left arm spinner Prerit Dutta for 51 off 66 balls with 6 boundaries.
Other notable contribution with the bat came from Sidesh Kinlekar who scored 39 off 39 balls with 2 boundaries and one six before being trapped in front by Sharad Lumba. FCI Innings folded at 207 in 45.4 overs, to give PCC a 111 runs win and make an entry into the semi finals of the tournament.
For Punjab the bowling honours were shared by left arm spinner Prerit Dutta 3 for 34 , Off spinner Akul Partap Pandove 2 for 56, Sharad Lumba 2 for 30 , Mandeep Singh 1 for 19 and Sandeep Sharma 1 for 22. Gurkeerat Mann was named man of the match.
SANVIR SINGH HITS TON FOR PCA COLTS
It was a double whammy for Punjab as their second team PCA Colts riding on a brilliant century by opener Sanvir Singh went on to record 266 for 5 in 35 overs. The match started late because of certain wet patches on the wicket and the match officials reduced the match to 35 over a side. Minerva won the toss and opted to field.
Punjab opened with Sanvir Singh and Prabhsimran who put on 36 runs for the first wicket before Prabhsimran was caught by A.Chaudhary off Manpreet Gony for 19 off 26 balls with 3 boundaries. Manpreet Gony struck two balls later to cleanup Ikjot Singh Thind before the batsman could open his account. At this stage Ramandeep Singh joined Sanvir Singh and the duo put on 127 run in 17.2 overs to take the teams total to 163 for 3 before Ramandeep was caught by Amit Prashar off Anish Ahmed for run a ball 50 inclusive of 2 boundaries and four sixes.
Thereafter Kunwar Pathak and Sanvir Singh put on 37 runs for the 4th wicket before Sanvir Singh perished being caught by Arslan off Jiwanjot Singh for a sparkling 112 off 98 balls studded with 16 boundaries and 3 sixes. Kunwar Pathak and Abhinav Sharma then put on 41 runs for the 5th wicket before Abhinav Sharma was caught by Raghav off Gurvinder Bhullar for 18.
Kunwar Pathak remained unbeaten on 49 off 22 balls laced with 4 boundaries and 4 mighty sixes while Abhishek Gupta unbeaten 15 off 6 balls with 3 boundaries was involved in an unbroken stand of 25 runs for the 6th wicket. PCA Colts innings ended at 266 for 5 in 35 overs.
For Minerva Cricket Academy Manpreet Gony 2 for 22, Gurvinder Bhullar 1 for 63, Anish Ahmend 1 for 44 and Jiwanjot Singh 1 for 29.
Replyng Minerva Cricket Academy were bundled out for 146 in 22.3 overs. Skipper Raghav hit a blistering 42 off 21 balls studded with 5 boundaries and three huge sixes before being caught by Prabhsimran off Raghu Sharma.
Gurvinder Bhullar unbeaten 22 off 10 balls with 3 boundaries was the other contributor with the bat. For PCA Colts Raghu Sharma was pick of the bowlers returning the flattering figures of 5 for 20, Barinder Sran (2), Sanvir Singh 1, Gaurav Chaudhary 1, Abhinav Sharma 1 were the other wicket takers. PCA Colts won the match by 119 runs to qualify for the semi finals. Sanvir Singh of Colts was named man of the match.
BARODA (1) STEAMROLL PLAYERS XI DELHI
Baroda (1) winning the toss and opting to field against Players XI Delhi at GMSSS Sector 26, bowled out the opposition for a meager 99 in space of 32.4 overs. Baroda’s pace attack of Vijay Hallai and Bawa Safi Pathan ran through the top order of Players XI Delhi. Anuj Rawat XI, Abhishek Watts 5 were done in by Bawa Safi Khan Pathan while Vijay Hallai accounted for Harthik Kanojia 3 and Deepak Khatari 2. reducing Players XI Delhi to 25 for 4 in 8.5 overs.
The Baroda bowlers did not let go their vice like grip on the players XI batsmen as they hustled them to their doom by claiming 9 wickets for 72 in space of 22.1 overs. Thereafter, Ajay Ahalawat 21 off 15 balls with 3 boundaries and one six put on 27 runs for the 10th wicket with Mayank Malhotra unbeaten six.
For Baroda (1) the bowling honours were shared by Baba Safi Khan Pathan 2 for 18, Vijay Halai 3 for 24, Smith Ghosh 2 for 16, Hemant Punde 3 for 24.
Baroda (1) started their reply with Prityush Yadav and Aditya Wagmode put on 21 runs for the first wicket before Prityush Yadav was trapped in front by Ajay Alahawat for 08. Thereafter Aditya Wagmode unbeaten 38 off 41 balls with 6 boundaries and Prateek Solanke unbeaten 45 off 48 balls with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes took them home by taking the score to 103 for 1 in 19 overs. The lone success in bowling for Players XI Delhi went to Ajay Alahawat who took one wicket for 19 runs. Baroda (1) won by 9 wickets and qualified for the Semi finals. Vijay Hallai for Baroda (1) was declared man of match.
CENTURY BY ROHIT PARKASH FOR AIR INDIA
Air India Delhi were in full flight today at Cricket Stadium Sector 16 as they reduced Baroda (2) bowlers to a pulp by smashing 371 runs for 5 wickets off 50 overs which is the highest total of the tournament so far. Baroda (2) won the toss and elected to bat. Air India opened with Rohit Parkash and Abhimanyu Yadav and the two went on to clobber the hapless Baroda (2) attack by raising a 174 runs partnership for the first wicket in 23 overs before Abhimaniyu Yadav was run out by Mohit Mongia for 59 off 70 balls with 8 boundaries.
Rohit Parkash left soon after being caught by Bhanoo off Shalok Desai for a scintillating century 115 off 77 balls studded with 15 well executed boundaries and two towering sixes. Deepak Joon and Lalit Yadav then put on 77 runs for the 4th wicket before Deepak Joon was caught by Desai off N.Rathawa for 60 off 65 balls with 7 boundaries and one six. Lalit Yadav was cleaned up by Suffian Patel for 57 off 39 balls inclusive of 6 boundaries and two sixes.
Rohan Rathi remained unbeaten on 39 off 26 balls with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. For Baroda (2) Shalok Desai 2 for 62 , N.Rathwa 1 for 61 and Suffian Patel 1 for 79 were the most successful bowlers.
Replying Baroda (2) lost their first four wickets for 66 in 17.2 overs. Jyotishil Singh scoring 39 off 51 balls with 4 boundaries and one six while Keyur Solanki and Mohit Mongia failed to open their account. Thereafter Bhanu Paniya and Shalok Desai got together to put on 128 runs for the 5th wicket before Bhanu Paniya was caught off the bowling of Yuvraj Chaudhary for 93 off 77 balls studded with 6 boundaries and six soaring sixes. Shalok Desai was caught of the bowling of Vision for 65 off 72 balls with 6 boundaries. Baroda (2) innings ended at 234 in 43 overs.
Prince Yadav 3 for 35, V.Panchal 3 for 32, Yuvraj Chaudhary 2 for 56, P. Bhatti 1 for 38, Lalit Yadav 1 for 52 were the main wicket takers. Air India won by 137 runs to enter the semi finals where they will clash with PCC. Rohit Parkash for his brilliant century was named man of the match.
Tomorrow's fixtures (semi-finals):
PCA Colts vs Baroda (1) Sector 16 Stadium, Chandigarh
PCC Vs Air India Delhi GMSSS Sector 26 Chandigarh