Uday Saharan's hundred carries Punjab past 300 after Shubman Gill falls for one

Punjab captain Uday Saharan answered Shubman Gill's early dismissal with an unbeaten hundred that has carried the hosts past 300 against Chhattisgarh in New Chandigarh

Punjab reached 339 for 4 from 111 overs in their first innings on the second day of the Elite Group B match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, having chosen to bat.

The innings has belonged to Uday Saharan, who was 106 not out at stumps on the opening day and resumed on the second with the innings still to be closed out.

It was a very different match for Shubman Gill, who made his first Ranji Trophy appearance of the season and was bowled for 1 by the left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal.

A short return for Gill

Gill batted at No. 4 and arrived with Punjab three down. Mandal drew him forward and beat the bat, the ball going through the gate to hit the stumps with the score 68 for 3.

The India captain had sat out Punjab's season opener against Assam, and this match was intended to give him time in the middle before a long red-ball assignment abroad.

He will lead India in both the ODIs and the Tests in New Zealand, a tour on which the first Test begins in Wellington on November 19 and the second in Christchurch from November 27.

Punjab's second-round fixture was the only first-class cricket available to him before the squad leaves, which made the brevity of the innings the talking point of the opening day.

Saharan answers with a captain's hundred

Saharan came in with the innings unsettled and batted through the rest of the day, reaching the third first-class hundred of his career off 168 balls with 13 fours.

He was at his most productive against the left-arm spin of Mandal and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, sweeping and slog-sweeping to keep the scoring moving on a slow surface.

The Punjab captain led India to the final of the 2024 Under-19 World Cup and was his state's leading run-scorer in the last Ranji season, and he has carried that form into his first full year in charge of the side.

Prabhsimran provides the support act

The innings was rebuilt by a fourth-wicket stand of 130 between Saharan and Prabhsimran Singh, who made 62 off 133 balls.

Prabhsimran was trapped lbw by Jadeja shortly before tea on the opening day, ending the partnership that had taken Punjab clear of early trouble.

Salil Arora then joined his captain and the pair added runs without further loss, Punjab closing the first day on 269 for 4 after 71 runs in the final session.

The same two batters were still together on the second morning, with Chhattisgarh yet to take a wicket in the day.

Chhattisgarh's spinners carry the attack

Mandal finished the opening day with figures of 2 for 60, having removed the opener Harnoor Pannu before he bowled Gill.

Jadeja took the other two wickets to fall, and between them the two left-arm spinners have bowled the bulk of the overs in the innings.

With the ball turning slowly rather than sharply, the visitors have had to rely on patience and on the batters' errors rather than on anything in the pitch.

What it means for the group

Vihaan Malhotra made 40 at the top of the order and put on a half-century opening stand with Pannu before both were given out lbw.

Punjab's position gives them first use of the surface and the chance to press for the first-innings points that shape the Elite Group B table in the early rounds.

For Chhattisgarh, the task is to end the stand quickly enough to leave time for a reply of their own on a pitch that has offered the bowlers little.

Scorecard: Punjab 339 for 4 in 111 overs (Uday Saharan not out, Prabhsimran Singh 62, Vihaan Malhotra 40; Ajay Mandal 2 wickets, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 2 wickets) v Chhattisgarh, day two, Ranji Trophy Elite Group B, New Chandigarh

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