Manish, Yuvraj put Punjab on top

Centuries by Manish Sharma and skipper Yuvraj Singh helped Punjab take a stranglehold on their Cooch Behar Trophy semifinal against Madhya Pradesh at stumps on the second day at the Telco club ground in Jamshedpur on Monday.

MP, 264 for eight overnight, were dismissed for the addition of only four more runs. Yuvraj Singh and Uniyal took four wickets each. Punjab were given a fine start by openers RS Ricky (45) and Manish Sharma who put on 122 runs off 47.4 overs. This was followed by a second wicket partnership of 119 runs from 24.2 overs between Manish Sharma and Yuvraj Singh. Manish Sharma was then leg before to Maninder Singh for 118. He batted 284 minutes, faced 215 balls and hit 17fours and two sixes. In the company of V Mahajan, Yuvraj too reached his century and at close was batting with 103. In aggressive mood, the skipper faced only 115 balls hitting 15 fours and two sixes. With Mahajan (10) he dominated the unbroken third wicket stand of 55 runs off 13 overs. By stumps Punjab had made 296 for two off 85 overs a lead of 28 runs with eight wickets intact.