Bilaspur: Punjab defeated HPCA by an innings and 173 runs on the last day of their league match of Vijay Merchant Trophy played at Bilaspur.

Chasing Punjab’s first innings total of 321, Himachal (overnight 34 for seven) were bowled out for 59 in 40.4 Overs. Left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma continued the stranglehold on the HPCA batsmen and claimed all the three remaining wickets to return the impressive figure of 17.4 -15-7-9.

Being forced to follow on, HPCA in their 2nd innings were bowled out for 99 in 67.4 overs. Siddharth Mehta 18 of 64 balls with four boundaries and Poorav Raj Singh 38 of 128 balls with five boundaries retrieved the innings with a fifth wicket stand of 39 runs.

Earlier, HPCA had made a dismal start when they lost their first four wickets with six runs on the board. Later on, a seventh wicket stand of 32 runs between Bikram Thakur 15 and Poorav Raj Singh took the teams score to 78 for 7. HPCA innings finally folded up for 99 in 67.4 overs.

Left arm spinner Abhishek Sharma continued his good form by claiming 6 wickets of 23.4 overs including 17 maidens. He was ably supported by Nehal Wadhera 2 for 6. With this win. Punjab got 7 points while HPCA got zero.

Brief scores:-

Punjab 1st innings 321 all out in 113.2 overs.

HPCA 1st innings 59 for all 40.4 overs.

Rohit Narang 11, SR Garg 10 , Y Jamwal 12, abhishek Sharma 17.4-15-7-9.

HPCA 2nd innings 99 for all in 67.4 overs.

Poorav Raj Singh 38 for Siddharth Mehta 18, Bikram Thakur 15, abhishek Sharma 23.4.-17-12-6. Nehal Wadhera 9-6-6-2.

Punjab will play their next match against JKCA at Dhruv Pandove stadium Patiala from 6th -8th December 2015.