Mahajan Shines in Punjab's Triumph

Punjab, thanks in the main to a marathon unbeaten 185 by skipper V Mahajan, comfortably won the MA Chidambaram (under-19) Trophy beating the Rest of India by virtue of their first innings lead of 142 runs at the Dhruv Pandove stadium in Patiala on Monday. The four day match ended in a tame draw.

Having scored 161 for four in reply to Rest of India's total of 237, Punjab were the favourites to take the all important first innings lead. And Mahajan in the company of AS Sodhi took Punjab past the Rest total for the loss of five wickets. He and Sodhi in fact added 74 runs for the sixth wicket before the latter fell for 40. Sodhi faced 57 balls and hit five fours. Then A Uniyal (34) helped his captain add 71 runs for the seventh wicket. Uniyal faced 61 balls and hit five of them to the ropes. But the innings revolved Mahajan's knock which lasted 625 minutes. He had come in when the first wicket fell at 18 and faced 389 balls and hit 14 fours and two sixes. Punjab were all out for 379. In the remaining time Rest of India scored 36 for two when stumps were finally drawn.