Patiala seized a commanding position on the first day of their Group D match in the Inter-District Senior Cricket Tournament Katoch Shield, held at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium. After Ludhiana won the toss and elected to bat, they were bowled out for a mere 194 runs in 66.3 overs, setting the stage for Patiala's dominant response.
Ludhiana's Batting Falters
Ludhiana's innings lacked the necessary momentum to post a challenging total. Despite useful contributions from Rajveer Soni and Sarthak Tyagi, who each scored 40 runs, and Anmoljeet Singh's 28, the batting lineup failed to convert starts into substantial innings. Young all-rounder Aradhya Shukla showed resilience with a valuable 22 lower down the order, but wickets fell at regular intervals, preventing any significant partnerships.
Patiala's Bowling Excellence
Patiala's bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Mayank Markande emerging as the chief destroyer. He returned impressive figures of 4 for 32, dismantling the middle order. Paras Jaidka provided excellent support, claiming 3 for 28, while Emanjot Singh Chahal chipped in with two wickets. Their combined efforts ensured that Ludhiana never gained momentum.
Patiala's Flawless Reply
In response, Patiala's openers Vihaan Malhotra and Prabjot Singh launched a flawless reply. They remained unbeaten at stumps, with Prabjot scoring 71 and Vihaan adding 62, guiding their team to 143 without loss. Their unbeaten century stand put Patiala within touching distance of the first-innings lead, with only a 51-run deficit and all ten wickets in hand.
Key Performances
- Mayank Markande: 4/32 for Patiala
- Paras Jaidka: 3/28 for Patiala
- Prabjot Singh: 71* (opener)
- Vihaan Malhotra: 62* (opener)
- Rajveer Soni: 40 for Ludhiana
- Sarthak Tyagi: 40 for Ludhiana
Ludhiana's bowlers toiled hard but failed to find a breakthrough. Aradhya Shukla, one of the state's most promising young pacers, bowled a tidy spell but couldn't dislodge the Patiala openers. With all ten wickets in hand and a deficit of just 51 runs, Patiala holds a commanding position ahead of the second day's play.
