Ranji Trophy: Punjab close in on victory against Haryana thanks to Yuvraj ton

Riding on India discard Yuvraj Singh's brilliant century, Punjab set Haryana a daunting target of 321 runs before reducing them to 26 for three at stumps on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group B cricket match here today

Patiala: Riding on India discard Yuvraj Singh's brilliant century, Punjab set Haryana a daunting target of 321 runs before reducing them to 26 for three at stumps on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group B cricket match here today.

Yuvraj Singh

Punjab need to take seven more wickets tomorrow to post an outright win, even as Haryana face an uphill task of saving the game with another 295 more runs required for victory.

After bundling out Punjab for 273 in their first innings, Haryana took a slender lead of 10 runs by posting 283 all out.

In the second innings, Punjab declared at 330 for six to set a massive target for Haryana.

Yuvraj's 130 off just 160 balls, including 14 fours and five sixes, was the highlight today.

Resuming on 21 for no loss in their second innings, Punjab's overnight openers Manan Vohra and Jiwanjot Singh failed to last long, while skipper Mandeep Singh (14) also lost his wicket cheaply to leave the team in a spot of bother at 94 for three.

But one-down batsman Amitoze Singh (65) along with Yuvraj consolidated the innings by putting on 145 runs together for the fourth wicket.

The fruitful partnership took Punjab past 230-run mark before Amitoze's superb knock off 149 balls, studded with six boundaries came to an end.

Yuvraj then continued in the company of Gurkeerat Singh (20) and Gitansh Khera (23) to set the opponents a huge total to chase.

In reply, Haryana has a disastrous start as lost their top three batsmen for just six runs on the board with medium pacer Sandeep Sharma (3/13) taking all three wickets.

At the close of play, Yuzvendra Chahal was unbeaten on five and Sachin Rana was on 15.

Brief scores:
Punjab: 273 & 330 for six declared (Yuvraj Singh 130, Amitoze Singh 65; Nitin Saini 2/35).
Haryana: 283 & 26 for three in 10 overs (Sandeep Sharma 3/13).

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