Dharmanis ton ensures draw

For the 36-year-old Punjab skipper Pankaj Dharmani scoring his 25th ton in his 142th game was special.

For the 36-year-old Punjab skipper Pankaj Dharmani scoring his 25th ton in his 142th game was special. Besides it being a match-saving effort for the team,the unbeaten 135 gave the veteran much-needed reassurance.

Unable to compile a hundred for the last two seasons,self doubts had slowly started to creep in Dharmanis mind. With Uttar Pradesh threatening to run away with the match after conceding a lead of 74,Punjab at one stage were 59/4 Dharmani led the fightback. As Punjab finished at 354/6,the game ended in a draw.

I am happy to have got my 25th first class hundred. Last year I missed on the opportunity though I was scoring runs. But this one is special as it has also given me a start of the season, said Dharmani.

As I said,it is a challenge. This year I have scored a lot of runs in the lead up to the Ranji Trophy. I was determined to bat a little longer which I somehow missed last year. I am happy to get a chance to play a lead role which was my wish since two years.

The wicket on the fourth day had nothing to offer as UP pacers RP Singh and Praveen Kumar were rested after short spells. Dharmani and Uday Kaul (74) stitched a 126 run partnership and that went a long way in Punjab securing a point from the game. Vishwas Bhalla (76) replaced Kaul and gave vital support to Dharmani.

Bhalla dropped the anchor and also rotated the strike. The new ball too didnt help UP. Bhalla played some exquisite back foot shots as the game drifted to a draw.

Brief scores: Punjab 288 & 354/6 dec. (Pankaj Dharmani 135 n.o,Vishwas Bhalla 76,Uday Kaul 74; Piyush Chawla 2/78,Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/52) vs UP 362