Vijay Hazare Trophy: Delhi beat Services by 62 runs

New Delhi: Delhi completed their Vijay Hazare Trophy League matches in style through a convincing victory over Services by 62 runs here at Firoze Shah Kotla ground on Tuesday.

Unlike previous matches, Captain Rajat Bhatia decided to bat first after winning the toss. Already through to the knockout stage, the home side decided to rest Unmukt Chand, Parvinder Awana and Ashish Nehra. In the absence of Unmukt, Mohit was promoted up the order to open along with Shikhar Dhawan. The opening spell of Suraj Yadav and Nishan Singh looked ordinary as they could not generate any assistance from the pitch. The opening duo made 45 runs and once Jagrit joined Shikhar after Mohit’s dismissal, batting looked even easier for Delhi. The second wicket partnership of Jagrit and Shikhar took the team across 100 runs.

It's only when captain Yashpal Singh came to bowl with his slower ones that Services team was able to slow down the run rate. His efforts paid off when he got Shikhar Dhawan stumped in 31st over. Even though captain's splendid bowling in the middle over was able to put a break in run flow, the fifth wicket partnership between Punit Bisht and Mithun Manhas took the game away from Services. Punit came at five down and made a quick fire 50 to make sure Delhi reach a respectable total. Delhi scored 88 runs in the last 10 overs. Last over saw 17 runs coming with two boundaries each from Rajat and Milind Kumar taking the side to 275 runs.

Defending a score of 275 runs, Ishant Sharma started the proceedings in style as he clean bowled Jasvir Singh in the very first over. Pawan Suyal gave the second break when team score was on 25 runs. The 52-run partnership between Swain and captain Yashpal steadied the Services innings and gave some hope to the bench. They scored runs maintaining a good run rate.

But with wickets of Swain and Sanjeev Mishra falling in quick successions, it was literally an end to Services hopes. Mithun and Rajat took the wickets. Captain Yashpal Singh continued his lone battle but all in vain as he could not get enough support from the tail. He played an entertaining knock of 95 runs including 10 boundaries and two sixes before getting out caught by Shikar Dhawan off Jagrit Anand. Delhi will now go to knockout stage with a lot of confidence.

By Sudheer Babu
Indian Sports News