Goel, Mongia race Punjab to nine-Wkt win over Services

Mohali, Feb 18 (UNI) An unbroken 134-run second wicket association between opener Karan Goel (61) and Dinesh Mongia (70) engineered an easy nine-wicket win for Punjab over Services in the North Zone One-Day Ranji Trophy match played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here today.

Required to score 151 for victory, Punjab achieved the target without any resistance from the opponents as the hosts scored 151 for one in 33 overs and 140 minutes. Punjab had a bad start as opener Ravneet Rickey was caught by Mohanty of the bowling of Pankaj Kumar (one for 43). The wicket fell at 17. Dinesh Mongia joined Karan Goel and they flayed the Services bowlers and achieved the target without being separated. Goel made unbeaten 61 and stayed at the crease for 140 minutes to bit eight fours and one six. Mongia's polished unbeaten knock of 70 contained ten fours and he faced 95 balls in 110 minutes.

Earlier, Services won the toss and decided to bat first. Debutant MI Khan and AP Singh opened the innings and Khan was bowled by Gagandeep Singh (1 for 11) and services could not open their account.Then AP Singh and new comer Jasbir Singh (31,3x4s) carried the total to 69 before AP Singh returned to the pavilion. Jasvir (42, 4x4s) was run out. Sarabjit Singh contributed 30 runs. Young Punjab medium pacer VRV Singh was the most successful and economical bowler as he captured three wickets for 29 runs. Vipul Sharma bagged two for 23 as Services were dismissed for 150 in 49.4 overs.

Punjab got five points and Services one.

SCOREBOARD SERVICES: MI Khan c Goel b Gagandeep Singh 0 AP Singh c Ricky b Malhatra 31 Jasvir Singh run out (Vipul Sharma) 42 Yashpal Singh c sub (G Gupta) b Vipul Sharma 0 S Verma st Dharmani b Vipul Sharma 6 Sarabjit Singh b Singh 30 AK Mohanty run out (Mongia) 14 Narender Kumar b Singh 2 F Mohammed c Uniyal b Singh 3 SS Karmakar b Uniyal 0 Pankaj Kumar not out 5 Extras (lb six, w nine, nb two) 17 Total (all out; 49.4 overs; 210 mins) 150 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-69, 3-70, 4-87, 5-98, 6-127, 7-136), 8-137, 9-137, 10-150.

Bowling: Gagandeep Singh 7-1-11-1 Amit Uniyal 7-1-22-1 VRV Singh 9.4=1-29-3 I Malhatra 6-1-28-1 Vipul Sharma 10-3-23-2 Rajesh Sharma 8-0-27-0 Dinesh Mongia 2-0-4-0.

PUNJAB: Ravneet Ricky c Mohanty b Pankaj Kumar 5 K Goel not out 61 Dinesh Mongia not out 70 Extras (w eight, nb seven) 15 Total (one wicket; 33 overs; 140 mins) 151 Fall of wicket: 1-17.

Bowling: F Mohammed 7- 0-27-0 Pankaj Kumar 8-0-43- 1 Narender Kumar 2-0-22-0 A K Mohanty 8-1-35-0 SS Karmakar 3-0-11-0 Yashpal Singh 3-0-12-0 A P Singh 2- 1-1-0 UNI