Yashpal Singh slams century

A belligerent century knock by Yashpal Singh enabled Services to score 238/8 in reply to Punjab first innings total of 300 runs in the North Zone Ranji match played at Gandhi Ground, Amitsar.

Punjab's overnight score of 300/9 did not advance any further, and the innings folded with the third ball of the day from Sayed Javed, which bowled Babloo Kumar and increased Javed's wicket tally to four.

Services began their reply on a sad note as Gagandeep Singh's impressive display of swing bowling sent back three batsmen back to the pavilion with only 27 on the board. Gagandeep struck in the very first over as PM Reddy (0) was compelled to play at an out-going delivery and edged it to gully fielder Sandeep Sanwal. Jasvir Singh (1) became the second victim of Gagandeep as he nicked an out-swinger for Yuvraj Singh to hold at third slip. Harish Bhaskar (7) was then surprised by a sharp in-cutter which shattered his stumps.

Yashpal Singh & Sanjay Verma showed some resistance and cautiously added 40 runs for fourth wicket. Skipper Verma (11) fell, trapped in front by Reetinder Singh Sodhi with the score on 67.

Sarabjit Singh stepped in at the departure of the skipper to join Yashpal Singh, who was shaping well. The pair took the total to 77/4 by lunch.

Yashpal Singh was in good touch and was stroking the ball well through the gaps. In this essay, he completed his half-century in 66 balls. Sarabjit too was facing the challenge with courage, and the pair wrested away the early initiative taken by Punjab. Both scored fluently and added 93 runs in the session without separated.

At tea, Services had scored 170 runs with Yashpal on 83 & Sarabjit on 49. The latter, however, was sent back by an accurate direct hit from mid-off by Yuvraj Singh while trying to steal a single to complete his half-century, ending a 106-run fifth wicket partnership.

Yashpal Singh gave the Punjab bowlers more nightmares as he stood like a rock at one end to keep the scoreboard ticking. He showed his class and temperament during this knock, going to his maiden ton in style as he lofted a flighted ball from Sawal for a six over long-off. His century came in 202 balls with 11 boundaries and a six.

Yashpal and CD Thomson were stabilising the innings when left-arm spinner Babloo Kumar gave a his team a double break as he bowled Thomson and trapped Javed in front. The Punjab skipper Vikram Rathore took the second new ball after 83 overs, with Services on 229/7. Yashpal was retired hurt, being struck on his left forearm by a lifting delivery.

Gagandeep took his fourth wicket as he got Sudhakar Ghag (0) caught at mid-off by Yuvraj. The end of the day's play was called at the fall of the eighth wicket, with Services still trailing by 62 runs with only two wickets remaining.