da bet7： A Brilliant century knock by Himachal skipper Virender Sharma (122)saved his team from a humiliating innings defeat but could not savethe match as Punjab won the match by 10 wickets and collected eightpoints from their first encounter during North
da dobrowin： Staff Reporter04-Nov-2001A Brilliant century knock by Himachal skipper Virender Sharma (122)saved his team from a humiliating innings defeat but could not savethe match as Punjab won the match by 10 wickets and collected eightpoints from their first encounter during North Zone Ranji TrophyLeague Cricket Match at PCA Stadium, Mohali.Himachal resumed their innings from 216 for 5 with overnight not outbatsman Virender Sharma (61) and Paras Dogra (5). Dogra (12) wasfirst to depart with the team total of 246 in 75th over when hesnicked leg spinner Sawal to wicket keeper Dharmani. Rahul Panta (15)joined Virender Sharma and played sensibly. Virender was in attackingmood as he hammered all the bowlers. Virender Sharma while playing his27th Ranji match completed his century in style as he smashed apowerful drive for a boundary at long on fence off Sandeep Sawal.With this be also completed 1000 runs in his Ranji matches.Punjab took the 2nd new ball after 85 overs with the team score on 283for 6 and immediately Vineet Sharma got the wicket of Rahul Panta whowas caught by Vikram Rathour in first slip with the scoreboard reading292.Ravi Kant Sharma walked in at Panta’s departure and showed courage tocome forward and drive on the up. Ravi & Virender added 29 runs forthe 8th wicket when Virender lost his patience and pulled a shortpitched delivery to the waiting square leg fielder Sandeep Sawal offVineet Sharma. Sawal completed the catch and Himachal were still inneed of 8 runs to avoid innings defeat.Vishal Bhatia (0) gave a simple catch at second slips to Dinesh Mongiaoff Gagandeep with the team on 326 for 9. Ashok Thakur (12) came inas last batsman and hit three powerful boundaries to cross theopponents total and at last edged a quicker delivery off Amit Uniyalfor wicket keeper Dharmani.Himachal scored 343 runs in 96.5 overs. Ravi Kant remained not out on24 runs. Amit Uniyal and Vineet Sharma scalped three wickets each atthe cost of 72 & 69 runs respectively. Sandeep Sawal got two wickets,while Gagandeep and Babloo Kumar accounted for one wicket each.Punjab requiring 15 runs to win achieved the target in 4.4 overs, 7minutes after lunch without losing any wickets. Munish Sharma scored10 and Ravneet Ricky scored 6 runs. Punjab will play against servicesat Amritsar from 7th Nov. 2001 to 10th Nov. 2001, while Himachal willface J&K at Mandi from 7th Nov. 2001 to 10th Nov. 2001.
