New Delhi: Riding high on Bipul Sharma’s all-round performance (four for 41 and 41 not out) and a fantastic knock of 78 from wicket-keeper Chandan Madan, Harbhajan Singh-led Punjab beat Hyderabad by five wickets to reach the semi-finals of Vijay Hazare Trophy at Palam Ground here on Wednesday. Punjab will now face Bengal on March 10.
Winning the toss, Hyderabad decided to bat but soon lost their opener Ravi Teja who was snapped by Madan off Manpreet Goni for seven. Thereafter P Akshath Reddy joined T Suman and the duo tried to steady the innings, until Reddy was caught by Amitoj Singh off left arm spinner Bipul Sharma for 37. Soon Rahul Sharma enticed Suman with a flighted delivery to be stumped by Madan for 34. Bipul Sharma struck again when he trapped Hanuma Vihari for 21 and followed it up by taking a catch of S Ahmed Quadric off his own bowling at the same score.
Ashish Reddy was next to go when he top edged one to Taruvar Kohli of Bipul Sharma and soon Rahul trapped P R Singh (5) and P M Ojha (1) in front of the wickets in quick succession . Harbhajan followed suit as he got Ibrahim Khaleel stumped by Chandan Madan for a well made 46 and Rajwinder Golu brought end to the innings when got Anwar Khan caught by Amitoj Singh for 4.
Punjab too didn’t get to a good start as Manush Bhatia was back to the pavilion in the very first over. Gurkirat Mann and Mandeep Singh soon followed their opener with Punjab’s scoreboard reading 28 for 3 in six overs. Chandan Madaan and Taruwar Kohli added 25 runs before Kohli was trapped leg before. Thereafter, Amitoze Singh joined Madan and they added 35 runs for the fifth wicket. Bipul joined Madaan after Amitoze’s departure and the game turned Punjab’s way decisively. Madan completed his fifty in 91 balls, adding with Bipul to complete the chase without further loss of wickets.
Brief scores: Hyderabad 175 all out in 49.2 overs (Ibrahim Khaleel 46, Bipul Sharma 4/31, Rahul Sharma 3/40) lost to Punjab 179/5 in 41.1 overs (Chandan Madan 79 not out, Bipul Sharma 41 not out)
