Uday Saharan’s sweeping brilliance (106 batting, 179b, 13x4) eclipsed the Ranji Trophy return of Shubman Gill and prevented Punjab innings from capsizing on the first day against Chhattisgarh at the New PCA Stadium here on Sunday.

The 22-year-old’s proficient use of the sweep and slog sweep shots tamed Chhattisgarh’s left-arm orthodox salvo of Dharmendra Jadeja and Ajay Mandal, which accounted for 51 overs on day one, rescuing Punjab from 68 for three and taking it to 269 for four at stumps.

Vihaan Malhotra (40, 77b, 4x4) and Harnoor Pannu added 50 for the opening wicket but Punjab saw a drastic slump after both were pinned, too late in their flicks, off Jadeja and Mandal, respectively.

Gill flops

Chhattisgarh truly had its tail up after it wrapped up Gill’s much anticipated return inside five deliveries. Mandal invited Gill for a front-footed defence, but got the delivery to zip straight through his gate and crash into his off-stump.

It was then that Saharan took matters into his own hands and put up a 130-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh (62, 133b, 6x4, 1x6).

The Punjab captain wasted no time and deployed the stroke the first time he faced Jadeja. He was alert enough to use his crease too, pulling Mandal for another boundary off a long hop.

The attack was more freewheeling in the second session which began with Saharan slogging and then cutting Jadeja for eight runs in the same over. The intent rubbed off on Prabhsimran, who slog swept another left-arm orthodox Vikalp Tiwari for back-to-back boundaries.

The only blemish in the second session, in which Punjab accumulated 109 runs, came in the last over when Prabhsimran misread Jadeja’s length and was pinned on his back foot.

The dismissal did not throw Saharan off his tracks, and he put his sweep to use twice on the way to his third First-Class century in just 168 balls.

Salil Arora held one end with his unbeaten 75-ball 38, which allowed Punjab to put another 71 in the last session without further damage.

The scores:

Punjab — 1st innings: Vihaan Malhotra lbw b Dharmendra 40, Harnoor Pannu lbw b Mandal 20, Uday Saharan (batting) 106, Shubman Gill b Mandal 1, Prabhsimran Singh lbw b Dharmendra 62, Salil Arora (batting) 38; Extras (lb-2): 2; Total (for four wkts. in 90 overs): 269.

Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-65, 3-68, 4-198.

Chhattisgarh bowling: Sandeep 17-1-54-0, Dev Aditya 15-3-31-0, Dharmendra 29-4-92-2, Mandal 22-4-60-2, Vikalp 6-0-27-0, Ayush 1-0-3-0.

Toss: Punjab.