India international Arshdeep Singh claimed his third career List-A five-wicket haul on Saturday, leading a clinical bowling performance as Punjab dismantled Sikkim by 10 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Arshdeep, the left-arm seamer who has become a mainstay in India’s white-ball setups, finished with impressive figures of 5-34 in his 10-over quota. His opening and middle-over spells left Sikkim in tatters at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground, as the opposition was bundled out for a mere 75 runs in 22.2 overs.

The performance marks Arshdeep’s third five-wicket haul in the 50-over format, following a memorable 5-37 on his ODI debut against South Africa in 2023 and a 5-38 against Mumbai in the previous domestic season.

Clinical Bowling Performance

Punjab’s decision to field first paid immediate dividends. While Sukhdeep Bajwa provided the initial breakthroughs by removing Amit Rajera and Ashish Thapa, Arshdeep quickly took control of the proceedings.

Arshdeep’s victims included Sikkim’s top scorer Palzor Tamang (13) and captain Lee Yong Lepcha, who was dismissed for a duck. He effectively wiped out the lower-middle order, claiming five of the first nine wickets to fall. Supporting the pace attack, spinner Mayank Markande cleaned up the tail to end the Sikkim innings in just over two hours.

Swift Run Chase

The target of 76 proved to be a formality for Punjab’s openers. Despite the absence of regular captain Shubman Gill, who sat out the match due to illness, Punjab reached the total in just 6.2 overs without losing a wicket.

Prabhsimran Singh, captaining the side in Gill's absence, smashed a blistering 53 off 26 balls, including seven boundaries and two sixes. His partner, Harnoor Singh, remained unbeaten on 21.

Standings and Outlook

The victory bolsters Punjab's position in Elite Group C, keeping them in second place as the tournament moves toward the knockout stages. For Arshdeep, the performance serves as a timely reminder of his prowess in the longer white-ball format as India prepares for its upcoming international schedule.

Sikkim, meanwhile, continues to search for its first win of the season after heavy defeats earlier in the tournament.