: Skipper Shikhar Dhawan helped himself to a 17th half century in Ranji Trophy in guiding Delhi to a fluent 10-wicket victory over Odisha in its league match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Monday.
Though a victory for Delhi looked certain, the host managed to open its points tally with a maximum of seven points, including a bonus. Dhawan and Unmukt Chand chased down the target of 82 in only 15 overs.
The post-lunch session, that lasted just six overs, produced 50 runs with Dhawan’s calculated assault fetching him a confidence-boosting half century.
On song
Dhawan was on song, hitting 55 runs including a six and nine boundaries off 49 deliveries. Chand played second fiddle with a 23 dotted with four hits to the fence.
Earlier, Odisha resumed its second innings at 229 for six and folded at 269, 99 minutes into the first session. Medium-pacer Pawan Suyal struck three times this morning to finish with a haul of five for 93.
Overnight not-outs Natraj Behera and Deepak Behera resisted for six overs before Suyal struck twice in succession. Natraj edged the ball to wicketkeeper Punit Bisht and new-man Basanta Mohanty departed when Unmukt Chand accepted a low catch in the slip cordon.
An upbeat Suyal deservedly took his fifth wicket with Chand completing the catch to end the 75-minute resistance of Deepak Behera. Vikas Mishra tasted success in his first over of the day to end Odisha’s innings.
Thereafter, the only point of interest was whether Delhi could manage to gain a bonus point by crossing the finish-line without losing a wicket. Dhawan and Chand played their natural game and reached the target in just 63 minutes.
The ball did fly off the edge of Dhawan’s bat a few times but landed safely. Dhawan, who hit three boundaries in one over from Alok Mangaraj in the pre-lunch session, put the finishing touches by hitting a six and two boundaries off Dhiraj Singh.
The defeat stretched Odisha’s winless streak to 25 matches. In the next round of league matches beginning November 17, Odisha faces Haryana and Delhi hosts Baroda.
The scores:
Odisha—1st innings: 143.
Delhi —1st innings : 331.
Odisha—2nd innings : A. Mallick lbw b Narwal 26, P. Patel lbw b Suyal 6, G. Podder b Narwal 85, B. Samatray c Mohit b Suyal 47, Natraj Behera c Bisht b Suyal 45, R. Mohanty b Awana 1, H. Das c Milind b Narwal 12, Deepak Behera c Chand b Suyal 23, B. Mohanty c Chand b Suyal 0, A. Mangaraj c Narwal b Mishra 10, D. Singh (not out) 0, Extras (b-8, lb-3, nb-2, w-1) 14, Total (in 111.4 overs) 269.
Fall of wickets : 1-8, 2-59, 3-143, 4-202, 5-205, 6-225, 7-243, 8-243, 9-258.
Delhi bowling : P. Awana 24-6-48-1, V. Mishra 24.4-13-34-1, Manan Sharma 12-3-30-0, P. Suyal 29-5-93-5, S. Narwal 16-5-41-3, S. Dhawan 6-2-12-0.
Delhi—2nd innings : S. Dhawan (not out) 55, U. Chand (not out) 23, Extras (b-1, lb-1, nb-2) 4, Total (for no loss in 15 overs) 82
Odisha bowling : B. Mohanty 7-0-34-0, A. Mangaraj 2-1-12-0, D. Behera 2-0-6-0, D. Singh 4-1-28-0.
