Punjab inch towards victory

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 17

Skipper Karan Kaila claimed seven wickets in a day as Punjab inched closer to victory against Himachal Pradesh on the third day of their Col CK Nayudu Trophy  match at Dhruv Pandove Stadium here today.

At the close of play, Himachal were reeling at 185/6 in their second innings after being forced to follow on. Punjab had amassed 529 runs in their first essay.  

Earlier, resuming at overnight 92/4, the visitors lost DB Rangi for the addition of just 24 runs. 

Rangi (31) became the second victim of Kaila after the left-arm spinner had accounted for EC Sen last evening.  

Skipper AP Sharma did not last long as he holed out to Himanshu Sharma off Akul Pratap Pandove on 20.      

AG Pathania and wicketkeeper-batsman MA Sharma tried to steady the Himachal innings with a defiant 38-run stand for the seventh wicket before Pandove struck again. Sharma was caught by N Chaudhary after a laboured 14-run knock.  

Five runs later, Kaila removed Pathania (27) to spell more trouble for Himachal. The hill state lost their last four wickets for eight runs to finally fold up their first innings on 177. 

Kaila was the wrecker-in-chief for Punjab, claiming 5/37. Arpit Pannu and Akul Pratap Pandove bagged two wickets each.  

Forced to follow on, Himachal started on a cautious note, with openers MS Dogra and RI Thakur adding 50 runs in 13.5 overs. 

However, three balls later Kaila trapped Dogra in front of wickets to open up the flood gates. In coming SG Arora survived just 19 balls before being stumped by RK Malhotra off Kaila. Thakur (38) perished to a needless run out as Himachal slumped to 89/3. 

EC Sen and DB Rangi held the fort for a while before Kaila struck again — this time, removing Rangi on 18 runs to bring down the curtains on a blossoming partnership. Sen fell to Pannu after completing a brisk half-century. 

Pathania was the last man to go in the Himachal innings today — caught by Kaila off Pannu. 

At the draw of stumps, HP skipper AP Sharma was unbeaten on 20, while MA Sharma was batting on seven. The visitors still need to score 167 runs to make Punjab bat again. 

Brief scores 

Punjab 529 all out  (Anmolpreet Singh 202, Sanvir Singh 105; AP Sharma 7/175) vs Himachal Pradesh 177 and 185/6 (EC Sen 50, RI Thakur 38; Karan Kaila 3/60, Arpit Pannu 2/47)