Dharmani, Mongia in unbroken 330-run stand

Pankaj Dharmani and Dinesh Mongia, with an unbeaten 330-run partnership for the fourth wicket put Punjab in a position of considerable strength at close of play on the second day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy league match against Jammu & Kashmir at the Burlton Park in Jullundur on Monday. After being 36 for three in reply to J&K's first innings total of 168, Punjab at stumps were 366 for three.

Medium pacer Surendra Singh rocked Punjab by taking the wickets of Ravneet Ricky (6), skipper Vikram Rathour (23) and Manish Sharma (3) in his first seven overs and suddenly the J&K first innings total looked very impressive. However over the next 76.5 overs, Dharmani and Mongia changed the scenario dramatically. They did pretty much what they liked with the bowling. Eight bowlers were tried but to no avail as the fourth wicket pair scored at will. Mongia was slightly the more aggressive of the two and by close he had hit 176 in 296 minutes. He faced 253 balls and hit eight fours and five sixes. The experienced Dharmani was no less impressive in his stokeplay and his 148 took him 306 minutes to compile. He faced 210 balls and hit eleven fours and three sixes. Surendra Singh by stumps had three for 52 off 16 overs but the rest of the bowling was harshly dealt with.