Photo via The Hindu

Ranji Trophy: Khare keeps Chhattisgarh in the game after Harpreet’s seven-for puts Punjab on top

Chhattisgarh’s Amandeep Khare delivered a match-turning performance in the Ranji Trophy second-round clash against Punjab at the New PCA Stadium, ensuring his team stayed alive after being set a follow-on target. Khare’s gritty 91 in the first innings set the tone, but it was his second innings that truly defined the game, where he anchored a crucial 74-run partnership with Ayush Pandey (59) to push Chhattisgarh to 123 for three at stumps.

Punjab, meanwhile, had dominated their innings with Harpreet Brar’s seven-wicket haul (3-89) and a team total of 456, but Chhattisgarh’s bowlers—led by Dharmendra’s seven-for—had earlier restricted Punjab’s first innings to 456 after a spirited chase of 250 was disrupted by early wickets. The hosts’ middle-order fightback saw Vikalp Tiwari’s aggressive 47 and Khare’s unorthodox but effective strokeplay, including a six and a four off Brar, before a miscue ended his innings.

Punjab’s momentum faltered when Harjas Tandon’s breakthrough was overturned by a third-umpire no-ball, while Chhattisgarh’s bowlers exploited Punjab’s top-order vulnerabilities, with Dharmendra and Sandeep Warrier leading the attack.

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