Punjab CC retain JP Atray Trophy despite Manhas' heroics

Vikram Rathour receiving the JP Atray Memorial Trophy © CricInfo

The final of the JP Atray memorial tournament in Chandigarh saw Reetinder Singh Sodhi push his claim for national selection. Slamming an unbeaten 84, the Punjab Cricket Club youngster took his side to victory by 19 runs. This is the third consecutive time the PCC have lifted the JP Atray trophy.

After being put in to bat by ONGC skipper Rizwan Shamshad, the PCC side made the best of ONGC's blunders in the field and piled up a solid total. Mediumpacer Feroz Ghyas who did not play a match in the tournament so far, had PCC skipper Vikram Rathour edging the ball to the 'keeper in his very first over. Manoj Mudgal floored a relatively easy chance and Rathour made him pay for it. In an almost run a ball knock that yielded 59 runs, Rathour got the home side off to a flying start. At the other end, under-19 star Munish Sharma (41) did well to get a start but a rush of blood saw him play all over a quick offspinner from Virender Sehwag.

Mediumpacer Mohammed Saif quickly snared Dinesh Mongia and Vivek Mahajan. This brought Sodhi into the middle at a time when PCC needed to consolidate their position. He did just that, playing with a lot of restraint. Off spinner Sharandeep Singh (30) kept Sodhi good company and the two pushed hard for ones and twos. However, it was not until the late entry of Harbhajan Singh that the PCC innings got the boost it needed. Harbhajan swung the bat with precision, clearing the ropes twice on the way to a 15-ball 21.

At the other end, Sodhi batted his heart out. Running ferociously between the wickets, Sodhi wasted no scoring opportunities. If he was not thundering between the wickets, he was striking the ball with gay abandon. He was especially good playing the ball back past the bowler and hit two towering sixes off the spinners. In the last four overs, he shifted into top gear, scoring 49 runs in that span. At the end of the innings he was unbeaten on 84 and his innings had pushed the PCC score on to 276 for seven in 50 overs.

Although ONGC had chased a total over 300 successfully in the tournament, it's never easy to chase big totals in a final. Star of the semifinal, Sandeep Sharma got ONGC off to a very healthy start, striking the ball cleanly through both the off and on sides. After making a run a ball 47, Sandeep Sharma was trapped LBW by a ball that kept low from Harbhajan Singh. Gagan Khoda did well to make 37 but he too did not pace his innings well enough. Radhey Shyam Gupte, Virender Sehwag and Rizwan Shamshad were all overwhelmed by the size of the total and were dismissed attempting extravagant shots.

At 169/6, the game looked all but over. Mithun Manhas however changed all that with an innings that any batsman would be proud of. Tonking the ball at will, he rotated the strike magnificently. Unfortunately, there was no one with his composure at the other end. As a list of batsmen marched in and out attempting wild swipes, Manhas was left high and dry on 61 off just 51 balls. A total of 257 in 48.5 overs was all the ONGC side could muster, a case of so near and yet so far.

At the prize giving ceremony, Manhas was declared man of the match. Other prizes went to all rounder Sandeep Sharma (man of the series), Navdeep Singh (best bowler), Reetinder Sodhi (best batsman) and Harminder Jugnu (best stumper).