VALSAD: 8,2,4,8,7,5,0,0 could sound similar to the digits in a telephone directory but these were individual scores from
Punjab’s famed batting line-up, that resulted in a huge 110-run loss to
Gujarat
on the final day of the
Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match at the
Sardar Patel Stadium
on Wednesday.
This was Gujarat’s third victory of the season, after having registered victories in their opening two games against Kerala and Hyderabad. On the other hand, it was Punjab’s second successive loss on the road and the Mandeep Singh-led side now have a Herculean task of winning both their remaining games at home, if they are to progress further in the premier domestic competition.
Punjab are now at the fifth spot in the Pool A table, after having registered two wins and as many draws and losses, while Gujarat occupy the second spot after registering three wins and suffering two losses in their five outings so far.
Coming to Wednesday’s proceedings, the equation was crystal clear for either side. Punjab needed another 133 runs while the home side were six wickets away. It took Gujarat just seven overs to complete the formalities.
Chasing a meagre 220, Punjab resumed the fourth day’s play at 87 for 4 before being eventually bowled out for 109 in 33.1 overs. The overnight duo of Anmolpreet Singh (4) and night-watchman Mayank Markande (2) could add just a couple of runs to their total before the latter became
Chintan Gaja’s second victim.
Anmolpreet, who had three consecutive ducks before Punjab’s second innings, managed to get rid of the unwanted record but failed to add anything to his overnight score of 4 before being caught behind by Gujarat skipper
Parthiv Patel off
Arzan Nagwaswalla.
Reduced to 91 for 6, Punjab desperately needed a solid effort from the last recognized batsman in first innings centurion and wicketkeeper Anmol Malhotra (8) and all-rounder Abhishek Sharma (7), but the duo seemed to be in a competition to race to the dressing room after hitting one four each.
Gujarat smelt of an imminent victory when Abhishek was packed off by Gaja after being caught by BH Merai with the Punjab scorecard reading 100 for 7. The tail comprising Siddharth Kaul (5), Arshdeep Singh (0) and Baltej Singh (0 not out) could hardly trouble the scorers before the side succumbed to 109 in 33.1 overs.
For the home side, the pace duo of Arzan Nagwaswalla (5/50) and Chintan Gaja (4/35) did most of the damage while SA Desai satisfied himself with a solitary wicket.