Punjab openers flay Services

Each of Punjab's openers registered a century, enabling their side to canter through to a 172-run win over Services in their Ranji one-day match against Amritsar on Monday.

Services won the toss and elected to field, a disastrous decision. Punjab got off to a cracker of a start, putting on 204 for the first wicket in just 34.5 overs. Manish Sharma made a fiery 102 off 99 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes. He was the first to depart, but his partner, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, stayed for another 71 runs, making 125 off 135 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.

With the help of cameos from Yuvraj Singh and skipper Pankaj Dharmani, Punjab reached 341/4 in their 50 overs. Always unlikely to successfully chase that target, Services were effectively out of the chase when the third wicket fell for 89 in 21.4 overs. Barring Yashpal Singh's 68, none of the batsmen could contribute significantly.

Services ended their effort at 169/8, handing Punjab a mammoth victory to kickstart their Ranji one-day campaign.