Katoch Shield:Amritsar hold edge over Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 25

L Sharad and Aarush Sabarwal stitched an unbeaten 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help Amritsar gain the edge over Jalandhar on the second day of the Katoch Shield final at the PCA Stadium here today.

While Sharad was batting on 58, Aarush, who has been consistent with the bat for Amritsar in the tournament, was not out on 29 at the draw of stumps.

Chasing Jalandhar’s first innings total of 282, Amritsar lost opener Rohan Marwaha for 16 runs before Shivluv Sabharwal and Rahul Kashyap steadied the ship with an 83 run-stand for the second wicket. The duo batted with patience and kept the Jalandhar bowlers at bay until Shivluv was trapped in front of wickets by Pargat Singh for 37. The opener faced 82 balls in his 144-minute stay at the crease.

Shivluv’s wicket triggered a mini collapse as Amritsar lost three quick wickets to slump to 120 for four.

Rahul fell to Pargat after scoring 110-ball 43 while Navneet Virk returned to the hut without troubling the scorers. He was caught by wicketkeeper Abhishek Gupta to give Pargat his third wicket of the day.

Sharad and Aarush then combined to resurrect the Amritsar innings and take the team to stability.

Earlier, resuming at 265 for 8, Jalandhar lost the remaining wickets for the addition of just 17 runs to the total to fold up at 282.

Abhishek Gupta was the first one to go this morning as was trapped leg before wickets by skipper Vinay Choudhary, five short of what would have been a well deserved century.

Abhishek managed to add just a couple of runs to his overnight tally of 93. Rishab Bhagat, who was unbeaten on two last evening, and Raghu Sharma frustrated the Amritsar bowlers for a short while before Varun Pal removed the former in the ninth over of the day.