Bowlers put Mohali in control

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 18

Ayush Goyal and Anshul Negi shared six wickets between them as Mohali reduced neighbours Chandigarh to 167/8 on the opening day of the U-16 ML Markan Trophy final at the PCA Stadium here today.  

At the end of the day’s play, skipper Yuvraj Chaudhary was battling on three, while Rana, at the other end, had yet to open his account. 

Both Goyal and Negi bowled with lot of purpose and did not allow the visitors to breathe freely. While Goyal (3/45) troubled the Chandigarh batsmen with his pace, Negi foxed them with his guile to return with figures of 3/24 on Day 1. 

After putting Chandigarh into bat, Mohali had a terrific start with the ball as Harnoor Singh misjudged an incoming delivery from Goyal to see his stumps fly in air, in the first over of the day.

Yuvraj Rai struggled for his nine runs before he became the second victim of Goyal. 

With side reeling at 18/2 in the 11th over, Suraj Patle and Arbab Ikbal tried to steady the ship with a dogged stand for the third wicket. 

The two batted with a lot of patience and determination and added 58 runs for the third wicket in 287 balls.  

The partnership came to end when Iqbal was caught by Mohit Mehra off Harshdeep Singh for 21 off 141 balls.

Goyal then returned to send back a set Patle to dent the visitors further. The batsman faced 194 balls for his 44 before he was undone by a rising delivery from the Mohali pacer. 

Jashanjot Singh and Raj Angad revived the Chandigarh innings with a 44-run stand for the 5th wicket but when the former was stumped in the 87th over, the visitors’ chances of batting the entire day looked bleak.

Angad, though, held the one end up and together with Manav Malik stretched the total past 150.   

After resisting the Mohali attack for 58 balls, Malik fell to the guile of Negi as he holed out to Prabhjeet Singh on 11. 

Negi claimed his second wicket when he trapped Angad in front for 34 (139 balls). He then castled Jaskeerat on the last ball of the day to cap up a successful day for Mohali.  

“We were playing decently till tea, but after that we lost quick wickets. In the first hour tomorrow, our motive would be not to loose any further wickets and play with a focused mind. If we get past the morning blues, then the game could turn in our favour,” said one of the city players.