Vijay Hazare Trophy Report: Punjab Beat Haryana In Easy Run Chase
Mar 4, 2017 at 10:13 AM
Punjab completed an easy victory over Haryana at Delhi, to register 4 crucial points in their tally for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. With this win now, Punjab are placed third in Group A, with 3 wins from 5 games. Baroda and Vidarbha are the only teams ranked ahead of Punjab with 3 wins but in a game less each.
On winning the toss, Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh put Haryana in to bat and the decision reaped great dividends right at the top. Opener Shubham Rohilla was dismissed for a duck as pacer Siddharth Kaul struck early for Punjab. A nice partnership between wicketkeeper Nitin Saini and Chaitanya Bishnoi developed, before skipper Harbhajan Singh struck, trapping the latter plumb.
For the rest of the innings, Haryana kept losing wickets at regular intervals and the absence of a steady partnership damaged their cause. Haryana’s innings came to a close at 196 in the 49th over as Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets for just 33 runs. Star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh took a wicket as well.
Punjab were in for some trouble as well after being reduced for 75-4 as Yuvraj Singh endured a poor show with the bat. However, Gurkeerat Singh took the onus upon himself and played a brilliant counter-attacking knock to get Punjab to safety.
Gurkeerat remained unbeaten on 91 off 86 deliveries as Punjab eventually won the game by 5 wickets and with 50 balls to spare.