The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Services surprises Punjab as title race intensifies

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Friday, Feb 17, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Services surprises Punjab as title race intensifies

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Services stunned Punjab by two runs at the Palam ground to create a last-round excitement in the North Zone one-day league here. The defeat saw Punjab and Himachal Pradesh tied at 13 points each with a match in hand.

The race for the crown intensifies, as Haryana, at nine points, needs a victory with a bonus point in its last match against Jammu and Kashmir to qualify. Delhi is placed fourth at eight points followed by Services (8) and J&K (-3).

Sumeet hits century

Opening batsman Sumeet Tomar (103 off 106 balls with 16 fours) and Yashpal Singh (71 off 68 balls with ten fours) led the Services charge against Punjab, which was served well by off-spinner Rajesh Sharma's five-wicket haul. But a casual approach left Punjab embarrassed despite Pankaj Dharmani and Ravneet Ricky coming up with decent knocks.

Left-arm spinner Arminder Singh (five for 50) and Fazil Mohammad (two for 42) exploited the complacency in the Punjab camp as Vipul Sharma, Ishan Malhotra and Sandeep Sanwal ran themselves out in the closing stages. Services came through despite some shoddy fielding as five catches and one stumping chance were blown away.

Brilliant knock

Sandeep Sharma's brilliant 104 off 98 balls with 15 fours marked Himachal Pradesh's 48-run victory over Jammu and Kashmir, which paid dearly for four run outs it suffered after Kawaljeet Singh struck 84 with ten fours.

At the Ferozeshah Kotla, Delhi tamed Haryana by 36 runs with skipper Mithun Manhas (97 off 103 balls and 12 fours) and Aakash Chopra (85 off 123 balls with seven fours and one six) laying the foundation. An inspired spell by left-arm seamer Kuunal Lall paved the way for Delhi's victory as Haryana made a brave effort through dashing opener Sumit Sharma (82 off 104 balls with eight fours) and attacking middle-order batsman Shafiq Khan (70 off 89 balls with six fours). But Lall removed Shafiq at a crucial stage to swing the game Delhi's way.

Injury worries

Delhi won comfortably but lost two players for the last match against Services. Medium-pacer Ishant Sharma hurt his webbing and N. S. Negi was struck on the nose when he lost sight of the skier at fine leg. They were replaced by Ashish Malhotra and Joginder Singh, according to chairman of the selection committee Chetan Chauhan. Incidentally, Chauhan faced a verbal assault by a member of the DDCA Sports Committee this morning. The DDCA will take up the matter at the appropriate level soon, said Chauhan.

The scores:

Delhi 291 for five in 50 overs (Mithun Manhas 97, Aakash Chopra 85, Shikhar Dhawan 46) bt Haryana 255 in 48.6 overs (Sumit Sharma 82, Shafiq Khan 70, Kuunal Lall four for 31); Services 261 in 49.1 overs (Sumeet Tomar 103, Yashpal Singh 71, Rajesh Sharma five for 29) bt Punjab 259 in 50 overs (Pankaj Dharmani 61, Ravneet Ricky 45, Arminder Singh five for 50); Himachal Pradesh 260 for nine in 50 overs (Sandeep Sharma 104, Nishchal Gaur 61) bt J&K 212 in 44.4 overs (Kawaljeet Singh 84, Arshad Bhat 53).

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