da aposte e ganhe： Punjab sure have thrown up some impressive debutants in their Ranjipre-quarterfinal against Assam played at the Punjab CricketAssociation Stadium, Mohali
Staff Reporter27-Jan-2002Punjab sure have thrown up some impressive debutants in their Ranjipre-quarterfinal against Assam played at the Punjab CricketAssociation Stadium, Mohali. If it was Ishan Malhatra who impressed onthe first two days, Friday found his new-ball partner Harish Puriwarming the cockles of the discerning. The fast bowler claimed 5 for66 in the Assam second innings as the tourists slumped to a ten-wicketdefeat in under three days. Punjab now move into the quarter-finals ofthe premier domestic tournament in the country.In the morning, Assam, resuming at 53 for two, lost opener Parag Dasalmost immediately. A 47-run fifth wicket stand between wicketkeeperSyed Zuffri (40) and Sumit Ranjan Das (31), and a 32 from GautamDatta, were the only bright spots in an otherwise pathetic Assamreply. These cameos ensured that the visitors at least avoided theembarassment of an innings defeat. This though was replaced by thenone-too-pleasurable feeling associated with a ten-wicket thumping asthe Punjab openers duly notched up the 14 runs required to seal theirteam’s quarterfinal berth.