Trident Cup T-20 cricket tournament: Jalandhar XI and Punjab Reds to meet in finals of Trident Cup T-20

Ludhiana: Jalandhar XI lost a crucial toss in the foggy morning at Hara Cricket Academy Ground but won the game from Amandeep Cricket Club, Amritsar and entered the finals of trident cup T-20 cricket tournament. The game at both venues was delayed today due to heavy fog and it started at 12:45 pm finally. However, a full game of T-20 was played at both venues. Jalandhar XI batted first and were straight away in trouble by loosing wickets and at one stage were 25/3 in 6.3 overs.

However, some fighting knocks by Abhishek Bajaj 28 of 33 balls, Arun Kalia 21 of 20 balls and a late cameo of 26 runs of 18 balls by Prerit Dutta helped their team to finish at 130 for 8 wickets in allotted 20 overs. For Amritsar, Sumit Sharma 2 for 24, captain Vinay Chaudhary 2 for 25 and Satnam Singh 2 for 29 bowled well.

In reply, Amandeep Cricket Club, Amritsar also started shakenly by loosing wickets at regular intervals to Harit Sacher 3 for 33 and were 21 for 4 in 5 overs. However, a gritty knock of 54 of 49 balls studded with 5 fours and 2 sixes by Sumit Sharma and 26 of 24 balls by Satnam Singh helped Amritsar team to recover and at one stage were 118 for 9 in 19 overs and requiring 13 runs of the last over to win the game. But unfortunately, they were all out for 119 runs in 19.4 overs making Jalandhar XI win the game by 11 runs. For Jalandhar Harit Sacher 4-0-33-3wkts, Arun Kalia 2.4-0-10-3 and Prerit Dutta 4-0-19-1 bowled well and won the game for their team.

Earlier in the day IG police Ludhiana Yurinder Singh Hayer inaugurated the game and Rakesh Agrawal Commissioner Police Ludhiana was present to watch the game. Former Indian cricketer Ajay Sharma drove all the way from Delhi to Ludhiana in a foggy morning to present the Man of the match award to Arun Kalia of Jalandhar XI.
 
BRIEF SCORES:-
JALANDHAR XI : 130 for 8 in 20 overs
Abhishek Bajaj 28, Prerit Dutta 26, Arun Kalia 21
Bowling- Sumit Sharma 4-0-24-2, Vinay Chaudhary 4-0-24-2, Satnam Singh 4-0-29-2
PUNJAB REDS ENTERS FINAL OF TRIDENT CUP
In the second semi-final played at GRD ACADEMY ground Ludhiana, Punjab blues won the toss and elected to field on a foggy morning. They started well by 2 early wickets of Punjab red but a third wicket partnership of 65 runs between captain Mandeep Singh (43 of 29 balls, 7 fours ) and Gurkeerat mann ( 68 of 40 balls, 5 fours and 3 sixes) and a fourth wicket partnership of 110 runs between Gurkeerat Mann and rising star Anmolpreet Singh 63 not out of 30 balls (4 fours and 5 sixes) helped Punjab red to post a formidable total of 206 for 4 in 20 overs. For Punjab blues Baltej singh 4-0-22-0 and Karan Kaila 4-0-29-0 were economical. India player Barinder sran got 2 wickets but was expensive ( 3-0-43-2).
In reply Punjab blues started shakily and kept loosing wickets at regular interval and finished 132 for 9 in 20 overs thus loosing the game by 74 runs. Anmol Malhotra 26 of 25 balls and Ikjot Thind 21 of 23 balls were the main scorers for Punjab blues. India players Sandeep Sharma 4-0-18-3, Siddharth Kaul 4-0-23-2 and Mayank Markande 4-0-18-3 bowled superbly for star studded Punjab red and won the game for their team.
Anmolpreet Singh junior India player won the man of the match award for his brilliant batting 63 not out of 30 balls studded with 4 fours and 5 sixes.
BRIEF SCORE:-
PUNJAB REDS:206 for 4 in 20 overs
Gurkeerat Mann 68, Anmolpreet Singh 63 not out, Mandeep Singh 43
BOWLING- Barinder Sran 3-0-43-2
PUNJAB BLUES:- 132 for 9 in 20 overs
Anmol Malhotra 26, Ikjot Thind 21 not out, Nehal Wadhera 19
BOWLING- Sandeep Sharma 4-0-18-3, Mayank Markande 4-0-18-3, Siddharth Kaul 4-0-23-2, Harpreet Brar 4-0-29-1