J&K cave in to Punjab spin troika

Punjab's spin troika dismissed Jammu & Kashmir for 168 on the first day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy league match at Burlton Park in Jalandhar today. Both sides had posted outright victories in their pipeopeners last week, so a keen contest was expected. But J&K missed the services of inspirational skipper Ajay Jadeja who has been suspended from representative cricket until the Board completes an inquiry into the CBI's findings.

For their part Punjab were without young stars Reetinder Sodhi and Sharandeep Singh who have been picked for the National Cricket Academy's three day game against Zimbabwe beginning November 8. Legspinner Sandeep Sawal grabbed the opportunity to mop up 4/39 in 21.3 overs. Sawal is rated highly by former India legspinner VV Kumar at whose MAC Spin Foundation in Chennai he trains.

He was assisted by off spinner Harbhajan Singh and left arm spinner Navdeep Singh who collected two wickets apiece. Kanwaljit Singh and Idais Gundroo - Jadeja's replacement - were the only J&K batsmen to offer some resistance. The duo added 73 for the fifth wicket before Gadroo was bowled by Navdeep for 43. Kanwaljit was later castled by Sawal for a defiant 54 (229 balls, 2 fours). From 122/4, the visitors lost their last six wickets for 46 runs, the innings terminating in 96.3 overs to the last ball of the day.