SAS Nagar, January 20: Harminder Kaku and Dinesh Mongia played superbly, yet could not save their side, Chandigarh, from conceding a vital 29 run lead to Jalandhar on the second day of the three day Punjab Inter-District Katoch Shield Super League cricket match here at the PCA Stadium, today.Replying to Jalandhar's first innings total of 319 for 7, Chandigarh could only manage 290 for 9 in the allotted 90 overs. Jalandhar were 24 for no loss in their second innings at close of play.Chandigarh lost opener Jaspreet Singh early in the morning but Ajay Mehra and Dinesh Mongia combined well to add 90 runs for the second wicket. Ajay Mehra played well to score 36, but fell caught and bowled by Amit Kukreja, just when his team needed him to consolidate.Bhupinder Singh (jr) stayed for a while but once he departed, Chandigarh looked to be in trouble. In strode Harminder Kaku, and he took the Jalandhar attack by the scruff of their necks. Kaku and Mongia defied the bowlers and put Chandigarh on road to recovery. Diensh Mongia fell after a well made 80, including six fours.However, the biggest setback for Chandigarh was when their star batsman Rakesh Saini misjudged a single and was run out.Unruffled, Harminder Kaku combined caution with aggression. He hit seven fours in his unbeaten effort. Unfortunately for him his teammates, except Nagesh Gupta, could not match his committment and let him and the team down.For Jalandhar leg spinner Amit Kukreja was the star bowler. He picked up 4 for 60 while former India off spinner Ashish Kappor toiled hard for his solitary wicket, giving away 124 runs in the process.ScoresJalandhar (Ist Innings): 319 for 7 and (IInd Innigns): 24 for no loss (Ashish Kapoor 20 batting). Chandigarh: (Ist Innings): 290 for 9 (Harminder Kaku 90 n.o., Dinesh Mongia 80, Ajay Mehra 36, Nagesh Gupta 21, Bhupinder Singh (jr) 18, Amit Kukreja 4-60, Ashish Kapoor 1-124).Audit cricket meetSeven teams will vie for top honours in the All India North Zone Audit and Accounts cricket tournament which begins here at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium tomorrow at 9.15 a.m.The participating teams are - Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
