Mushtaq Ali Trophy : Mandeep Singh registers back-to-back fifties: 24-year old Mandeep Singh of Punjab, has been ‘on a roll’ with his batting exploits.
Having scored 469 runs from 8 matches (13 innings) at an average of 39.08, 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries in Ranji Trophy 2015-16, 394 runs from 7 games (7 innings) at an average of 65.66, 2 centuries and 1 half-century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2015, Mandeep has carried his excellent form into the Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2016 also.
Following his 52-ball unbeaten 76* runs with 7 fours and 3 sixes in the first encounter against Rajasthan, which came in a losing cause, Mandeep went on to score, ‘back-to-back’ second half-century in Punjab’s second match against Jammu & Kashmir in the match played at Nehru Stadium, Kochi.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl, Punjab was successful in restricting J&K to a small total of 105 runs in 19.3 overs. Except for Bandeep Singh (40) and Ian Dev Singh (39), no other batsmen could reach the double digit.
For Punjab, Baltej Singh (3.3-0-23-3) and Harbhajan Singh (4-0-8-3) were the chief wreckers.
Chasing 106 for a win, Punjab lost their first wicket in the form of Manan Vohra (0) in the fifth delivery of the innings. Pargat Singh and Mandeep Singh then got together and went on to add 97 runs in 13.4 overs virtually ensuring a victory for Punjab. Pargat departed after a well-made 44 runs off 34 deliveries with 6 fours and 1 six.
Mandeep stayed on till the end and in the company of Mayank Sidhana (5*) ensured that the line was crossed. Punjab scored 108 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 14.3 overs.
Registering his 8th T20 half-century in his 97th match (87th innings), Mandeep went to notch up an unbeaten 58* runs in 45 deliveries with 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Punjab won the game by 8 wickets with 33 deliveries to spare.
