Punjab routed Services by 109 runs.

Mohali 30 October : Fine Centuries by Vikram Rathore (103) and Reetinder Sodhi (102*) enabled Punjab to beat Services by 109 runs in the second league encounter of their North Zone Ranji Trophy one-day match played at Punjab Cricket Association stadium here today.

Vikram Rathore won the toos and opted to bat first on a flat track. Sandeep Sharma (20) with his skipper opened the innings. He was caught at short covers off M.V.Rao at team score of 33. Test discarded Navjot Sidhu also departed at same total as he was traped in front of wicket by Rao of very next delivery. Reetinder Sodhi came in at hat-trick and denied for M.V.Rao. Sodhi and Rathore make the marry of Services bowlers as they score at will. Rathore while playing 23rd innings of his 24th Ranji one day match completed his second century. His century came of 135 balls with the help 10 boundaries and two mighty sixes. He was caught at mid wicket by Amit Nadkarni off the bowling of Ghag while trying to acclerate the run rate in last ten overs.

Sodhi also hit a splendid ton for the first time in Ranji one dayers while playing 11th innings of his 13th match. His unbeaten knock consisted of four hits to fence in 114 balls. He established his innings with single and doubles. Rathore and Sodhi were very quick in wickets as both converted two's into three frequently. This pair added 182 runs for the third wickets in 217 balls. Dinesh Mongia also contributed quick 20 not out runs in 23 balls. Punjab scored 278 for the loss of four wickets in 50 overs. M.v.Rao and Sudhakar Ghag captured two wickets each by giving away 49 and 47 runs respectively.

Chasing a big total Services started off well as opener Narender Singh (38) and K.K.Dixit (37) added 68 runs for the opening wicket. Left arm spinner Navdeep Singh who replaced Vineet Sharma give the break through in his second over as he got Dixit caught at point by Sodhi.Navdeep Singh and Lakhbir Singh put breaks on Services scoring as they both bowled a tight line and length. Both captured two wickets at the cost of 18 and 22 runs respectively. Services batsmen were never looking in chase as their wickets fell at regular intervals and their scoring rate was reducing over by over.

At the end of 50 overs Services could managed only 169 runs for the loss of seven wickets and fell short by 109 runs. With this Punjab is having four points from their two games.