Published: Oct 03, 2015, 08:09 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 31, 2016, 02:34 PM (IST)
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of Day Three of the Ranji Trophy 2015-16 Group B game between Punjab and Railways at Mohali. Gurkeerat Singh Mann, who has been selected in India’s One-Day Internationals (ODIs) squad against South Africa, smashed an unbeaten double hundred for Punjab against Railways. Punjab declared after they reached a score of 604, losing only five wickets. Gurkeerat smashed 25 fours and five sixes in his 207-ball innings. Gitansh Khera, who scored an unbeaten 102, took 166 balls to reach his century. Uday Kaul and Mandeep Singh are the two other centurions for Punjab. Yuvraj Singh, who is leading Punjab in absence of Harbhajan Singh, managed only 28. Read all Ranji Trophy 2015-16 team previews here
Live cricket score Railways 97/3 | Overs 21 | BATTING: Prashant Awasthi 36(21), Arindam Ghosh 11(19): With seven wickets in hand, Railways still trail Punjab by 311 runs. The openers who had given an excellent start in the first innings miserably failed this time with Saurabh getting out for 8(17) in the seventh over, while ARB Singh who scored a 90 yesterday managed only a 40-ball 23 today, leaving Railways in trouble at 45 for 2 in the 13th over.
OUT! Saurabh c Gitansh Khera b Varun Khanna 8(17)
OUT! A R B Singh c & b Varun Khanna 23(40)
OUT! Rohan Bhosale LBW Varun Khanna 18(31)
Live cricket score Railways 22/0 | Overs 5 | BATTING: Saurabh 8(16), A R B Singh 14(14): Barinder Singh Sran’s six-wicket haul in the first innings shattered the Railways side despite the latter’s good start. Railways got bowled out for 196 in reply to Punjab’s first innings total of 604 and hence the home side enforced follow-on. At Tea, Railways till trail Punjab by 386 runs.
Live cricket score Railways 167/4 | Overs 49 | BATTING: Prashant Awasthi 6(13), A R B Singh 90(157): Railways looked strong until the 42nd over when the openers had built a partnership of 150 runs, however Punjab struck back strong dismissing three Railways’ batsmen in the next three overs and since the last wicket, the away side has managed to add just 17 runs on board. They still trail Punjab by 437 runs.
OUT! Rohan Bhosale LBW Barinder Singh Sran 0(1)
OUT! Mahesh Rawat c Gitansh Khera b Barinder Singh Sran 1(3)
OUT!Arindam Ghosh c Mandeep Singh b Barinder Singh Sran 0(3)
Live cricket score Railways 121/0 | Overs 33 | BATTING: Saurabh 48(90), A R B Singh 73(113): Railways have strongly started their chase, still no luck for Punjab in getting the breakthrough. Although the econonmies of Punjab bowlers have been impresive so far but they need wikcets here. ARB Singh is the one from the duo who is taking the charge of their innings, already 12 fours in his account. Meanwhile, Saurabh is playing the second fiddle, giving the exact support that is required when the opponent’s first innings score is as huge as 604. Railways undoubedly need a numerous partnerships like this one, only then they can go ahead of the home side.
Live cricket score Railways 16/0 | Overs 6 | BATTING: Saurabh 17(43), A R B Singh 49(53): Double century from Gurkeerat Mann and centuries from Gitansh Khera, Uday Kaul and Mandeep Singh ensured Punjab was on the driving seat with 2 days left in the match. In reply to their masive total of 604, Railways have started their innings decently and have managed to hold on and not lose any wicket with 66 runs on baord. But how long will they continue this form?
Earlier on Day 1, Punjab made 489 runs. With the help of these batsmen Punjab are inching close to a mammoth target. None of Railways bowlers looked good, they were found wanting but more than that it was the wonderful batting exhibited by Punjab that stood apart. Apart from opener Manan Vohra most of the batters at least crossed 30 runs mark. There were two run-outs in Punjab’s innings which is a testimony to the fact that if it had not been for these unfortunate run-outs, things could had been far worse for Railways.Railways need to work hard to get into the match. Arindam Ghosh and Ranjeet Mali need to bat very sensibly when they come to bat but the current problem before Railways is how to break this partnership.
Brief scores (After Day 2):
Punjab 604 for 5 decl. (Uday Kaul 112, Mandeep Singh 109, Gurkeerat Singh Mann 201*, Gitansh Khera 102*; Arnab Arun Nandi 1 for 86) vs Railways.
Teams:
Punjab: Yuvraj Singh (c), Jiwanjot Singh, Mandeep Singh, Gurkeerat Singh, Manan Vohra, Gitansh Khera (wk), Maninder, Siddharth Kaul, Uday Kaul, Barinder Singh Sran, Varun Khanna.
Railways: Mahesh Rawat (c&wk), Saurabh Wakaskar, Arindam Ghosh, Ranjeet Mali, Karn Sharma, Prashant Awasthi, Krishnakant Upadhyay, Arnab Arun Nandi, Rohan Bhosale, Anureet Singh, Hitesh Kadam.
