Gurgaon: Opening batsman Jitender Singh, with a fine 102, propped up Haryana on the opening day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy match against Punjab at the Nehru stadium here yesterday. Thanks mainly to his contribution, Haryana were 242 for eight from 95 overs at stumps.

Jitender and Parinder Sharma (36) put on 79 runs for the second wicket. Then Jitender and R Puri (23) added 77 runs for the fourth wicket before the former was out. Jitender batted 269 minutes, faced 203 balls and hit 15 fours.

Sharandeep Singh brought Punjab back in the game late in the day and finished with five for 95 off 35 overs. But an unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 40 runs between P Jain and V Jain kept the Haryana innings going till stumps.

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