Punjab march into semis

Chandigarh, January 19

A superb 169 by Nikhil Chaudhary and a five-wicket haul by Harpreet Brar helped Punjab beat Uttarakhand by an innings and 406 runs on the third and penultimate day of their Col CK Nayudu Trophy match at Dhruv Pandove Stadium in Patiala on Saturday and advance to the semifinals. 

Trailing the hosts by 553 runs, Uttarakhand were bowled out for 147 runs in their second innings. Brar returned with figures of 5/60, while Arshdeep Singh claimed 2/22.  

Earlier, resuming the day on 519/6, Punjab rode on Chaudhary’s knock to score a mammoth 713 runs in their first innings. The all-rounder, who was batting on 55 yesterday, hammered 24 boundaries and five sixes during his 212-ball stay in the middle. — TNS