Published: Jan 01, 2019, 07:16 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 01, 2019, 07:16 PM (IST)
Punjab thrashed Kerala by 10 wickets on day three of their Ranji Trophy 2018-19 Round 8 Elite B match on Tuesday to take their points tally to 20, thereby brightening their his chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
With the huge defeat and the bonus point, Punjab have moved up to fourth place with 20 points in seven matches just below Kerala, with the same number of points, but boast a better net run-rate.
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Chasing 127 after Kerala were bowled out for 223 in the second dig, Punjab hardly broke a sweat in their run-chase. In-form opener Shubman Gill registered his sixth first-class fifty while Jiwanjot Singh was unbeaten on 48 as the duo saw the home side to the finish line in 27.4 overs. Gill smashed 11 boundaries during his 73-ball 69, while Jiwanjot hit four boundaries for his 95-ball 48.
Earlier, resuming their second innings at 127/3, ahead by 31 runs, Mohammed Azharuddeen’s maiden century went in vain as he received no support from the other end. Azharuddeen tonked 12 boundaries and two sixes for his 168-ball 112 with the next highest scorer Vishnu Vinod adding just 36 runs.
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For Punjab, Mayank Markande was the pick of the bowlers with four for 56 in his 21 overs.
Brief scores: Punjab 217 & 131/0 (Shubman Gill 69*, Jiwanjot Singh 48*) beat Kerala 121 & 223 (Mohammed Azharduddeen 112; Mayank Markande 4/56) by 10 wickets
