Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Chhattisgarh lives to fight another day against Punjab after contrasting Khare crusades

Amandeep Khare’s attritional 89-ball 37 took Chhattisgarh to 123 for three at stumps on day three after it was asked to follow-on.

Updated : Oct 20, 2026 16:55 IST , New Chandigarh - 3 MINS READ

FILE PHOTO: Chhattisgarh’s Amandeep Khare dropped anchor after a top-order collapse in the second innings. | Photo Credit: G. KARTHIKEYAN

Amandeep Khare produced two contrasting essays on Tuesday and ensured Chhattisgarh lived to fight another day against Punjab in their Ranji Trophy second-round fixture at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.

His second effort required him to drop anchor after a sudden top-order collapse, and with an attritional 89-ball 37, Khare took the visiting side to 123 for three at stumps on day three after it was asked to follow-on.

Ayush Pandey (59 batting, 161b, 8x4, 1x6) also showed gumption for a fight and put a price on his wicket, joining Khare in a 74-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Spin did not pose a stumper after Pandey and Sanidhya Hurkat proactively used their feet to start off the second innings. Hurkat collected two boundaries through covers off Harpreet Brar while Pandey launched sweeps through the on-side.

The pair had chopped off 48 out of the first-innings deficit of 250 when Emanjot Singh Chahal picked two wickets off as many balls to throw a spanner in the works. For a second time this match, Hurkat edged on his stride forward and was caught at first slip. Ashutosh Singh was unlucky to be given leg-before on a defence despite an inside edge.

In the next over, Sanjeet Desai was cramped by Harpreet on a cut and ended up chopping back onto the stumps.

Realizing what the situation entailed, Pandey recalibrated and joined Khare in navigating the passage, even if it meant runs came at a trickle.

Harjas Tandon found a breakthrough, pinning Pandey on 42, but Punjab’s celebration was cut short after a third-umpire check revealed the off-spinner had overstepped.

That aggression was the way against the spinners dawned upon Chhattisgarh in the morning session after Vikalp Tiwari came out firing.

Brushing aside his team’s situation at 72 for five, Tiwari proceeded with a swept boundary against Harpreet. Gurnoor Brar was taken by surprise when Tiwari ramped his surprise bouncer over the keeper.

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Tiwari had the rub of the green too as his edges off Gurnoor crept through the cordon for boundaries. But not long after he pulled Harjas past mid-on, the off-spinner threw an arm-ball to catch Tiwari plumb in front.

Ajay Mandal thumped three sixes off Harjas in one over — straight down the ground, over mid-off, and mid-wicket — but became the second batter to get foxed by the straight one. He expected turn and shouldered arms only to find the delivery crashing into his castle.

In his first innings (91, 154b, 11x4, 1x6), Khare had picked the odd boundary but had to crank it up a notch, realizing he was running out of time and partners.

He slog-swept Emanjot for a four, Harpreet for a six before going inside-out over covers against the latter. He was interested in another aerial hit off Harpreet when he miscued his loft and holed out at mid-off on 91.

Published on Oct 20, 2026

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