Punjab's run riot on final day

The Punjab batsmen, led by Yuvraj Singh, just kept piling on the agony for Bihar on the fourth and final day of the Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) final at the Keenan stadium in Jamshedpur on Sunday. Having already made sure of winning the title on Saturday, Punjab who were 431 for two at close of play on the third day in reply to Bihar's first innings total of 357, batted the whole day and ended with the mammoth score of 839 for five in 854 minutes off 222 overs.

Skipper Yuvraj Singh, on 232 overnight, just kept batting and batting till he was finally out for 358. The Chandigarh born lad, who turned 18 earlier this month, batted 579 minutes, faced 404 balls and hit 40 fours and six sixes. His partnership for the third wicket with V Mahajan realised 341 runs from 87.2 overs. It was truly a monumental effort by the teenager, who had come to the crease on Friday evening at the fall of the first wicket at 60. He had initially put on 207 runs for the second wicket with Manish Sharma.

There was no respite for the beleaguered Bihar bowlers even after they had dismissed Yuvraj Singh. Mahajan and HK Kali (40) then added 72 runs for the fourth wicket off 12.2 overs. The cascade of runs continued unabated with Mahajan and M Dhuper (66) increasing the score by 119 runs during a fifth wicket association that lasted 22.2 overs. Dhuper made merry, facing just 73 balls and hitting eleven fours. But by now all eyes were on Mahajan who was nearing his double century. He got it just before close and at the end of the game was unbeaten with 204, compiled off 520 minutes. He faced 414 balls and hit 21 fours.

The Bihar bowlers, not unexpectedly, ended up with the kind of figures they see in their bad dreams. A Yadav sent down 81 overs and conceded 289 runs while capturing two wickets. Satendra Mishra was expensive conceding 218 runs off 49 overs while taking two wickets.