Mongia stars as Punjab CC book semifinal spot

An inspired Punjab Cricket Club scored a comprehensive 95-run victory over Air India in the 7th JP Atray Memorial cricket tournament in Chandigarh today and secured a berth in the semi-finals.

PCC piled up a huge total of 321 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, Air India could muster only 226 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

The PCC skipper called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first. Former Test player Paras Mhambrey got the first breakthrough as Ravneet Ricky was trapped in front of the stumps by a delivery which kept low. Skipper Vikram Rathour, who had started off cautiously, opened up later and hammered six boundaries to all parts of the ground. His knock of 38 came off 44 deliveries. Manish Sharma, who scored an elegant fifty in the first match, started from where he left off as he opened with an exquisite cover drive.

Rathour, who was shaping well, was bowled by Pritam Gandhe as he tried to cut a delivery which was not too short. Munish Sharma too did not last long, being stumped off the bowling of Mander Dalvi. Reetinder Sodhi joined Dinesh Mongia at the crease when the scoreboard read 134 for the loss of three wickets. Both of them initially built their innings by taking singles and twos.

Mongia, who has been in good form this season, was in fine nick from the very first ball. Using his feet to the spinners, he displayed a fine array of strokes. His drive through extra covers were a treat to watch. He completed his 50 off 51 deliveries with two fours and two sixes. At the other end, Sodhi gave him good company by rotating the strike.

Mongia completed his century off just 86 balls. He then opened up, smashing 20 runs in one over including two sixes and two fours of Mander Dalvi. He was finally stumped off the same bowler, when while trying to reverse sweep a flighted delivery, he lost balance in the process. He scored a belligerent 122 off 94 deliveries which included 10 boundaries and four huge sixes. Sodhi remained unbeaten on 78 which he scored off 70 balls with the help of one boundary and four power packed sixes.

Mhambrey, Pritam Gandhe and Mander Dalvi took two wickets each, giving away 53, 53 and 61 runs respectively. Sairaj Bahutule proved to be very expensive, giving away 75 runs in his allotted 10 overs without reward.

Air India XI sent in Bahutule as a pinch hitter to open with Altaf Marchent. But he failed to deliver the goods as he was caught off the bowling of Gagandeep for 20. Though Tariq-ur-Rehman and Neeraj Patel (51, 71b, 4x4) were involved in a partnership of 86 for the third wicket, the duo took 118 balls to compile the runs. This only increased the required run rate. Much then depended on former Indian player Praveen Amre. But he was run out following a mixup when 11 including one six. HS Sodhi wielded the willow to good effect (45, 44b, 3x4, 3x6) but it was a case of too little too late. Left arm spinner Navdeep Singh was the most successful bowler with a haul of three wickets for 40 runs in a spell of 10 overs.