Kaul helps Punjab recover

Uday Kaul struck a fine hundred as Punjab recovered from a top-order collapse to close at 324 for seven on the opening day of their four day Ranji Trophy Super League Group B against Uttar Pradesh at Mohali on Friday.

Uday struck 151 and helped the hosts recover after the three top order batsmen Ravneet Ricky (3), Karan Goel (2) and Sunny Sohal (8) were back in the pavilion with the board reading 17. At close, Uday was still holding one end with Charanjit Singh at 29. Earlier, Uday combined with Pankaj Dharmani to add 86 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter was trapped leg before by to Praveen Kumar.

Uday got the much-needed support from Ravi Inder (45) and the duo added 121 runs for the fifth wicket. Amir Khan caught Inder off a delivery from Kumar when the total was 224. New batsman Ankur Kakkar (3) returned to the pavilion being caught by Mohd Kaif off a delivery of Piyush Chawla after the addition of five runs to the board. Manpreet Gony (8) also did not last for long at he crease.

He was out leg before to Kumar when the total was 240. Kaul and Charanjit (29) had added 84 runs for the unbroken eight wicket. Praveen Kumar, 4 for 60 and Sudeep Tyagi, 2 for 88, were the main wicket-takers for the visitors.

Scorecard

Punjab (1st innings):

R Ricky b Tyagi 3

K Goel c Amir Khan b Kumar 2

S Sohal c Raina b Tyagi 8

P Dharmani lbw b Kumar 46

U Kaul battng 151

R Inder c Amir Khan b Kumar 45

A Kakkar c Kaif b Piyush Chawla 3

M Gony lbw b Kumar 8

C Singh batting 29

Extras: (b 20, lb 7, nb 2) 29

Total: (for7 wickets) 324

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-11, 3-17, 4-103, 5-224, 6-229, 7-240.

Bowling: Praveen Kumar 25.2-6-60-4, Sudeep Tyagi 23.4-4-88-2, M Abid Khan 19-4-65-0, Ravikant Shukla 2-0-5-0, Piyush Chawla 20-2-79-1