Perry, Raina pull Punjab out of trouble

Chennai, Jan 12 (UNI) A fine performance by wicket keeper Perry Goyal (35 batting) helped Punjab recover to 83 for two in reply to Mumbai's 229 all out in the first innings at close on the second day of the four-day final of the under-17 cricket tournament for the Vijay Merchant Trophy here today.

After restricting Mumbai to a modest total, which resumed at 151 for six, Punjab were in dire straits at four for two in 4.1 overs.

However, skipper and opener Kanwar Raina (41 batting, 177 balls, 4x4) and Perry Goyal (35 batting, 158 balls, 3x4) stemmed the rot with a doughty performance to deny further success for Mumbai and also put Punjab on course for the crucial first innings lead.

Kanwar and Goyal have so far added 79 runs for the unfinished third wicket in 330 balls.

Earlier, Mumbai added a further 78 runs into the second morning, before they were bowled out in 126.2 overs.

Syed Abdullah Iqbal top scored with an unbeaten 52 (94 balls, 6x4) after Mumbai lost both their overnight batsmen Siddarth Sudhir Kinlekar (30) and Gaurav Ashok Jathar (15) without any addition to the score.

For Punjab, medium pacers Siddarth Kaul and Mohit Mahindra claimed four and three wickets respectively.

UNI