Prerit Dutta plays a shot.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Punjab tailenders embraced Harnoor Singh Pannu’s playbook, trusted their defence and put Kerala through a frustrating day in the field in their Elite Group-B Ranji Trophy fixture at the PCA New Cricket Stadium, Ground B here on Sunday.
The ninth-wicket partnership between Prerit Dutta (72, 145b, 4×4, 1×6) and Mayank Markande (48 n.o., 141b, 2×4, 1×6) was the cornerstone. It lasted 256 balls, added 111 runs and got Punjab a first-innings score of 436.
The home side put on just 186 runs through the day but achieved its ulterior motive of wearing down the opposition.
Kerala’s caution to a final-hour slump was evident as it used two nightwatchers inside seven overs.
Basil N.P. was sent in to open but edged to second slip off Krish Bhagat on his fourth ball.
Ankit Sharma followed at No. 3 and survived 16 deliveries till stumps. Regular opener Vathsal Govind endured more than his fair share of chirping from the Punjab cordon but got Kerala to 15 for one without further damage.
The visitor had only itself to blame for not tightening the noose around Punjab’s lower-order.
Its tweakers operated in the stump-to-stump line like clockwork, but allowed easy singles to long on and long off.
Prerit was lucky when his edge off Ankit bisected the gully and slip fielders.
He was eventually castled by offie Ahammed Imran.
Markande collected a six over long on but was left stranded on 48 when Ankit snared Ayush Goyal to bowl out Punjab.
Earlier in the day, Pannu (170, 343b, 13×4) was poised for a double century before his defences was breached by a length delivery from M.D. Nidheesh that nipped in and skidded low.
The southpaw was as sure-footed and in control as on the opening day, still trading off pressing drives for soft-handed taps that got him singles.
Bhagat was watchful and complemented Pannu. The pair put on 66 runs for the seventh wicket before Ankit drew Bhagat forward, squared him up and took his off stump.
Prerit and Pannu adopted a similar cautious approach until the latter was left helpless to Nidheesh’s delivery.
The scores:
Punjab — 1st innings: Harnoor Singh b Nidheesh 170, Prabhsimran Singh b Aparajith 23, Uday Saharan b Ankit 37, Anmolpreet Singh c Azharuddeen b Basil 1, Naman Dhir c Azharuddeen b Basil 1, Ramandeep Singh c Kunnummal b Ankit 6, Salil Arora lbw b Aparajith 36, Krish Bhagat b Ankit 28, Prerit Dutta b Imran 72, Mayank Markande (not out) 48, Ayush Goyal b Ankit 4; Extras (b-5, lb-5): 10; Total (in 163.4 overs): 436.
Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-138, 3-141, 4-147, 5-162, 6-236, 7-302, 8-312, 9-423.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 29-4-83-1, Basil 31-6-69-2, Ankit 45.4-9-103-4, Akshay 14-1-47-0, Aparajith 32-3-88-2, Imran 12-1-36-1.
Kerala — 1st innings: Vathsal Govind (batting) 7, Basil N.P. c Naman b Krish 4, Ankit Sharma (batting) 2; Extras (lb-2): 2; Total (for one wkt. in seven overs): 15.
Fall of wicket: 1-4.
Punjab bowling: Ayush 4-1-9-0, Krish 2-1-4-1, Prerit 1-1-0-0.
Published – October 26, 2025 07:19 pm IST
