Punjab XI lifts Trident PCA Cup Challenger Triangular Series

Mohali: In the grand finale of the Trident PCA Cup Challenger Triangular Series played at I S Bindra Cricket Stadium, Mohali, PCA Punjab XI defeated Rest of Punjab Red today by 12 runs in a nail biting finish, thereby lifting the Trident PCA Cup 2021.
PCA Rest of Punjab Red won the toss today and invited PCA Punjab XI to bat first.
PCA Punjab XI got off to an excellent start with both the openers Prabhjot Singh & Abhijeet scoring centuries and had an opening stand off of 235 runs thereby laying a strong foundation to their teams big total. While batsmen Abhijeet was the first one to go at 100 in 118 balls (10 fours) , Prabhjot Singh kept batting solidly in the company of Abhinav Sharma, who scored a quick fire 27 runs in 13 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes). Batsmen Prabhjot Singh’s 158 runs in 147 balls (15 fours and 2 sixes) helped the team reach a mammoth total of 335 runs in their allotted 50 over’s for the loss of 4 wickets.None of the bowlers of Punjab Red except Ikjot Singh, who captured 3 wickets, could restrict PCA Punjab XI batsmen today.
Chasing the target PCA Rest of Punjab Red suffered an early setback when opener Mandeep Bawa was caught by Parth Agarwal of a delivery by Gurnoor Brar in 6th over when the team’s total was 39 runs. The other opener Vishwa Pratap alongwith batsmen Kashish Pasneja took control of the situation and contributed an important 108 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket when Kashish Pasneja (56 runs in 76 balls) got run out in the 28th over and immediately after that Vishwa Pratap (74 runs in 80 balls) was caught by Ramandeep Singh of a delivery by Gurnoor Brar with the teams total at 148/3. Although Captain Gitanash Khera tried his best with a valiant knock of 82 runs in 54 balls ( 11 fours and 1 Six) to save the match with good support from Sumit Sharma, who scored 38 runs of 28 balls ( 3 fours & 1 Six)  but despite their valiant effort the team folded at 323 all out in the 49.4 overs.
PCA Punjab XI won today’s match by 12 runs and the Trident PCA Cup Challenger Triangular Series by 2-1 .
Prabhjot Singh of PCA Punjab XI was declared the Man of the Match.
Surjeet Rai Joint Secy PCA,  RP Singla Treasurer PCA,  Gursharan Singh former India Player, Daljeet Singh Ex chief curator PCA were the guest of honour in today’s awards ceremony. The winning team PCA Punjab XI was given cash prize of 2  lakh, the runner up Rest of Punjab Red team got a cash prize of 1 lakh . Abhijeet Garg of PCA Punjab XI was adjudged as the best player of the tournament, Abhinav Sharma  of PCA Punjab XI was adjudged as the best bowler, Prabhjot Singh of PCA Punjab XI was adjudged as the best batsman, Gaurav Chaudhary of PCA Punjab XI was adjudged as the best All rounder, Salil Arora of Punjab Red was adjudged as the best wicket keeper and Ramandeep Singh of PCA Punjab XI was adjudged as the best fielder in the tournament.
All won a cash prize of Rs 11000 each. Bhupinder Singh Sr, former International cricket player & member of the organising committee congratulated the players who excelled in the series. He also thanked the sponsors Trident Group for promoting the game of cricket in the region.

The key takeaways of match played today:
PCA Punjab XI:  335/4 ( 50 Overs)
Prabhjot Singh 158, Abhijeet 100, Abhinav 27
PCA Rest of Punjab Red (bowling)
Ikjot Singh (10-1-55-3), Prerit (10-0-63-1) Deepin Chitkara (7-0-59-0) Sumit Sharma (10-0-63-0) Hartejassvi Kapoor (10-0-89-0), Kashish Pasneja ((3-0-19-0)
PCA Rest of Punjab Red: 323 /10 (49.4 over’s)
Vishwa Pratap 74, Kashish Pasneja 56, Geetansh Khera 82, Sumit Sharma 38, Salil Arora 22 runs
PCA Punjab XI (bowling)
Gurnoor Brar (9.4-0-60-3), Raman Malinga (10-0-73-1), Abhinav Sharma (9-0-78-2) Vinay Chaudhary ( 10-0-27-1), Gaurav Chaudhary (7-0-44-1)
 
Abhijeet Garg man of the Series.