Punjab strengthened their position against Chhattisgarh in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B clash after left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar claimed five wickets on the second day in New Chandigarh. His disciplined spell helped Punjab put the visitors under pressure after posting a commanding first-innings total of 456.
Punjab Post 456 After Strong Batting Display
Punjab’s batting effort was led by captain Uday Saharan, who produced an impressive 161 from 299 deliveries. His innings provided the foundation for a substantial total, with the right-hander displaying patience and composure during his stay at the crease.
Wicketkeeper-batter Salil Arora also made a significant contribution, scoring 107 off 226 balls. His century strengthened Punjab’s position and helped the hosts maintain control over the innings.
Prabhsimran Singh added 62, while opener Vihaan Malhotra contributed 40. Harpreet Brar chipped in with 27 runs, giving Punjab further support before the innings ended at 456 in 152.5 overs.
For Chhattisgarh, left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja was the leading wicket-taker, finishing with seven wickets for 173 runs. Ajay Mandal claimed two wickets, but Punjab’s batters managed to build a substantial total.
Harpreet Brar Leads Punjab’s Bowling Attack
Chhattisgarh struggled to establish themselves in reply as Brar made crucial breakthroughs with his left-arm spin. He conceded just 21 runs in 11 overs, including three maidens, and finished with figures of five wickets for 21 runs.
Brar struck early to remove Sanidhya Hurkat and Aayush Pandey. He continued to trouble the batting line-up, dismissing Sanjeet Desai and Ashutosh Singh before completing his five-wicket haul by removing Dharmendrasinh Jadeja for a duck.
His accuracy and control prevented Chhattisgarh from building the partnerships needed to challenge Punjab’s first-innings total. The wickets also left the visitors facing a considerable deficit as they attempted to recover.
Chhattisgarh Face a Difficult Challenge
At the close of the second day, Chhattisgarh were 72 for five after 27 overs, trailing Punjab by 384 runs. Amandeep Khare was unbeaten on 15, while Vikalp Tiwari had contributed 16 not out.
The remaining batters faced the task of reducing the deficit and preventing Punjab from securing a commanding first-innings advantage. Punjab, meanwhile, had reason to be encouraged by the combination of Saharan’s century, Arora’s contribution and Brar’s effective bowling.
Punjab Look to Maintain Their Advantage
Punjab’s performance demonstrated the value of combining a substantial batting total with disciplined bowling. Saharan and Arora provided the runs, while Brar ensured that Chhattisgarh could not respond with a strong batting partnership.
With the match continuing in New Chandigarh, Punjab were firmly positioned to press their advantage on the third day. Chhattisgarh needed resilience and a significant improvement with the bat to remain competitive in the contest.
