Punjab scored a facile innings and 123 run victory over Jammu and Kashmir on the third and final day of their North Zone Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) match at the Dhruv Pandove stadium in Patiala on Thursday. Punjab thus earned eight points from their opening fixture.

Resuming at the overnight score of 68 for 6, Jammu & Kashmir lost the last four wickets for the addtion of a further 98 runs. The tail wagged particularly Anoop Mongotra (59) and Sumit Silwal (22). Anoop, who was at the crease for 125 minutes faced 119 balls while belting three fours and two sixes.

On Wednesday, Punjab's domination continued. The day saw Jammu and Kashmir tottering at 68 for 6 at stumps, 289 runs in arrears. Punjab had earlier declared at 415 for six.

Resuming at the score of 140 for 2 on the second morning, SP Singh (200 not out) and Vikram Sodhi (111) continued from were they left off the previous day. The two forged a 238-run partnership for the third wicket from 46 overs. Sodhi was the first to be dismissed when he was caught by Jasritia off Mongothra. During his 185-minute stay at the crease, Sodhi faced 172 balls and found the boundary ropes eight times.

Meanwhile SP Singh who was the more flamboyant partner, reached his double century. Singh, who faced 217 balls during his 320 minute stay, hit 14 boundaries and cleared the ropes six times. Three balls after the fall of Sodhi, Baljit Singh (0) followed him back to the pavilion after giving a catch to Sathyajit Singh off Mongotra. Punjab lost two further wickets, those of Rajan Singh (9) and C Madan (16) before skipper Gagandeep Singh declared the innings.

Jammu & Kashmir started their second innings disastrously losing opener M Mir (3) off the first ball of the second over bowled by Uniyal. But I Thakur (26) and A Jalani (17) took the score to 45 when Thakur fell leg before to Sawal. Jammu and Kashmir were neck deep in trouble within the next four overs as they lost four wickets.

Jalani and V Kaw took Jammu and Kashmir past the fifty run mark but with the score at 54, Jalani fell in the 29th over. They recieved a further setback five balls later when P Mahajan (0) was trapped leg before by SP Singh. In the next over they lost Jasrotia (0) when he was caught by Mandora off Sawal. Kaw (7) followed him in the next over bowled by SP Singh. A Mongotra (5) and Satyajit Singh (8) safely negotiated the remaining overs before play was called off for the day.

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