Punjab in comfortable position

Punjab were comfortably placed to take the all important first innings lead against Rest of India at stumps on the third day of their MA Chidambaram Trophy match at the Dhruv Pandove stadium in Patiala on Sunday. In reply to Rest of India's total of 237, Punjab were 161 for four wickets at close of play.

Rest of India, resuming at 220 for 7, were dismissed after 10.3 overs. Opening bowlers Gagandeep Singh and A Uniyal took the remaining three wickets. In fact both the bowlers shared all the ten wickets with Gagandeep taking six for 58 from 23 overs and Uniyal four for 35 off 16.3 overs.

Punjab lost GS Garry at 18 but the other opener Binwant Singh and skipper V Mahajan put Punjab back on course with a second wicket stand of 104 runs off 50.1 overs. Binwant then was out for a sedate 43, compiled off 168 balls with the help of four hits to the fence. M Dhuper (16) and Gagandeep Singh (1) did not last very long but Mahajan carried on till stumps with a fine unbeaten 70. The captain batted patiently for 285 minutes, facing 218 balls in the process. He hit eight fours.