Chandigarh: Resuming at overnight 235 for 2, Punjab batsmen sent the hapless Railways attack to the cleaners by notching up 604 for 5 in 171.1 overs before declaring their innings in the Ranji Trophy opener, at PCA Stadium on Friday.
Uday Kaul and Mandeep Singh started the proceedings but Mandeep Singh who had reached his century on Thursday was soon castled by medium pacer Ranjit Mali for 109 off 213 balls, studded with 16 boundaries. The third wicket stand between Uday Kaul and Mandeep Singh had realised 197 runs.
Skipper Yuvraj Singh stepped in to fill in the breach and added 35 runs for the 4th wicket before Uday Kaul was run out by Saurabh for 112 off 290 balls, including 10 boundaries. Yuvraj Singh was then joined by Gurkirat Mann but the partnership did not progress much as Yuvraj was caught and bowled by Karan Sharma for 23 off 53 balls, inclusive of 5 boundaries.
At this stage Punjab were 298 for 5 in 111.2 overs. Wicket keeper Gitansh Khera joined Gurkirat Mann and the two started flaying the tiring Railways attack and hit the bowlers with disdain to all parts of the ground. Gurkirat Mann, who has been recently named for the first three one dayers against the visiting South Africans and has been in sublime batting form continued to prosper and hit an unbeaten double hundred (201) off 207 balls with the help of 25 well executed boundaries and 5 effortless sixes.
His partner Gitansh Khera who kept one end up also made a sedate unbeaten century (102) off 169 balls with 9 boundaries and one six before skipper Yuvraj Singh applied the closers to the inning with Punjab total reading 604 for 5 in 171.1 overs.
Gurkirat Mann while playing his 29th innings off his 20th Ranji match surpassed his earlier highest score of 157 against Karnataka at Hublee in 2013-2014 season. Gitansh Khera also playing his 30th innings of 19th Ranji Trophy match surpassed his highest of 100 runs scored against Vidarbha at Nagpur last year.
The railway bowling card presented a pathetic sight as the spearhead of their attack medium pacer K.K. Uppadhya went wicket less for 121 off 40 overs while leg spinner Karan Sharma returned the figures of 1 for 115 off 36 overs.
Railways started their reply through Saurabh Walskar unbeaten 2 and Ashiah Singh unbeaten 12 in 6 overs. The Punjab medium pace attack was spearheaded by Siddharth Kaul and Barinder Singh who had bowled 3 overs each. Railways were 14 for no loss at close of second days play.