Gambhir & Co give Kotla pitch the boot

It seems even the Delhi Ranji team has ditched the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch. A desperate Delhi team management, looking for an outright win, has forced their fourth round Ranji trophy match to be shifted to Roshanara grounds from the Ferozeshah Kotla. “Skipper Gautam Gambhir and the team thinktank have insisted the game be played at the Roshanara ground instead of the Kotla. We have to do it as we want to make the team comfortable,” said DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan.

Delhi’s first game against Jharkhand, where they were favourites, was washed out and they conceded points in the second round game against Gujarat. It has been learnt that the team isn’t happy with the dead Kotla track and want an outright win against Haryana to stay in contention. Hence they want to play at Roshanara, where the pitch supports the seamers a lot. The match begins on November 21.

Delhi ‘A’ take points after a tame draw in CK Nayudu

It was not the most ideal of finishes for Delhi U-25 but they would happily go to Orissa for their next match with the result. After having taken the first-innings lead and earned point on Sunday, Delhi extended it further to 89 and crossed the 400-run mark. Rahul Yadav ground out a vital 44 not out while last man Sunny Sehrawat made 32. The duo put on 60 for the last wicket and almost ensured that they didn’t have to bat again and face a target. Uttar Pradesh, having lost points went all out against a complacent Delhi who were more interested in completing the formalities than taking further initiative. At the end, UP were 266 for 2 with the openers putting on 141. Former India Under-19 star Aksh Deep Nath made a blazing 95 while DP Rawat made a steady hundred. Interestingly, Delhi’s strike bowlers Sunny Sehrawat and Shelly Shaurya bowled just nine of the 62.4 that were bowled, preferring to rest their bodies.

Scores

Uttar Pradesh ‘A’ 315 & 266/2 (DP Rawat 103, AD Nath 95), Delhi 404 (Dhruv Shorey 120, Mohit Sharma 66, Rahul Yadav 44*, SRC Kumar 4/107)

Delhi U-19 lose to Bengal in semifinals, crash out of Vinoo Mankad

In what turned out to be anti-climax, Delhi U-19 were thrashed by Bengal Colts in the semifinals of the Vinoo Mankad one-dayers by 99 runs. Delhi boys succumbed under the pressure of a big total set by Bengal while batting first. Bengal put up 271 for seven while Delhi were dismissed for just 172 in 38.1 overs. Delhi were struggling at 93 for seven but PS Vijayran’s 59 off 55 balls gave them respectability. Delhi began well, scoring 42 off 6.1 overs, before falling apart.

Scores

Bengal U-19 271/7 in 50 overs (SS Ghosh 54, A Keshri 52) beat Delhi U-19 by 172 in 38.1 overs (PS Vijayran 59, Sarthak Ranjan 30, P Chakraborty 3/33)

Sehwag, Gambhir fail to get going as Delhi manage one point

For the second successive time in Delhi’s second round Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat at Surat, Virender Sehwag failed with the bat while Gautam Gambhir’s grind couldn’t get him a big score. It was the most apt setting for Virender Sehwag. A day back, assistant coach Bantu Singh had said that the circumstance Delhi found themselves in was ideal for a Sehwag special. Delhi had to get the hosts, who were 89/4 overnight, quickly. They couldn’t manage to get Gujarat soon enough, but the target of 257 runs in 47 overs was still gettable. However, after Unmukt Chand fell for a duck, Sehwag came in with a positive intent. His 18-ball 15 had one four before he fell to a soft dismissal yet again. He tried to venture out of the crease but the ball from left-arm spinner Akshar Patel beat him and he was stumped by Parthiv Patel. In the first innings, Sehwag had holed out to mid-on, the ball hitting the bottom of his bat. Once Sehwag was gone, Delhi’s chances of a win were gone. Gambhir and Manhas then batted to save the game before the Delhi skipper was dismissed for 44, out leg before. Soon after, stumps were drawn. Delhi were 100/3 in 32 overs. Gujarat got three points on first innings while Delhi took home one. Delhi play Mumbai in Mumbai in the next round. Earlier, a lion-hearted effort from bowlers – Sumit Narwal (3), Vikas Mishra (4) and Parvinder Awana (2) helped Delhi dismiss Gujarat for 231.

Scores

Gujarat 320 & 231 (Parthiv Patel 56, Vikas Mishra 4/83, Sumit Narwal 3/42, Parvinder Awana 2/34) vs Delhi 295 & 100/3 (Gautam Gambhir 44, Virender Sehwag 15, Mithun Manhas 32*)

Dhruv Shorey hits a ton, with Mohit & Nagar help Delhi ‘A’ take lead

Finally, the Delhi U-25 team showed some spine. The team, which is playing Uttar Pradesh in a second round match in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy in Moradabad, managed to take a slender lead and guarantee points on first innings after the third day’s play. The hero of the day was left-handed batsman Dhruv Shorey, who made 120 to lead a fightback and stitched a crucial fourth partnership of 85 runs with Yogesh Nagar who made 45. Nagar, a Ranji Trophy player, had been left out of the first game but was drafted in for this game. The partnership helped Delhi tide over a shaky situation and carried them from 142/3 to 227/4 and within striking distance of the UP total of 315. The partnership may have taken them further but for an unlucky run out, when a straight drive from Shorey brushed the bowler’s hands and hit the stumps catching Nagar short. “The ball was turning so I had to be patient. Otherwise things went smoothly. Yogesh bhaiyya was a bit unlucky to get out that way,” said Shorey after the day’s play. Earlier, resuming at 6 for 1, Mohit Sharma, who was brought to this squad from the Ranji squad, had given them a solid start by making 66. There were steady partnerships that helped Delhi throughout. There was a minor stutter when Shorey was out with the team score at 287. From 287/5 they were reduced to 312 for 8. But skipper Shelly Shaurya and Rahul Yadav saw them through to 344 before Shaurya was dismissed. Monday is the final day of the match.

Scores

Uttar Pradesh U-25 320 vs Delhi U-25 344/9 (Dhruv Shorey 120, Yogesh Nagar 45, Mohit Sharma 66, SRC Kumar 4/88)

Manhas, Manan to rescue after Viru, Gauti fail as Delhi concede 25-run lead

Both former India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir flopped as Delhi conceded a lead of 25 runs against Gujarat in their Ranji Trophy second round match in Surat. Coming in at second down, Sehwag could make just one off 4 balls. Skipper Gambhir ground out a 31 off 79 balls with four fours as the visitors were saved by Mithun Manhas’s hundred (104) and young all-rounder Manan Sharma’s 64. The two put on 153 for the fifth wicket after their side was struggling at 49/4. Ashish Nehra’s late, lusty hits gave Delhi 37 runs as they managed to close in on Gujarat total on the third day. Left-arm spinner Akshar Patel took six wickets for the hosts. However, Sumit Narwal, who took a fifer in the first innings, took a couple of wickets while Vikas Mishra and Parvinder Awana took one each to reduce Gujarat to 47/4 in the second innings to keep Delhi afloat. Parthiv Patel and Venugopal Rao then stitched a partnership to take Gujarat to 89/4 by stumps. Delhi are behind by 114 runs.

Scores

Gujarat 320 & 89/4 (Parthiv Patel batting 28, Venugopal Rao batting 24, Sumit Narwal 2/15, Vikas Mishra 1/36, Parvinder Awana 1/11) lead Delhi 295 (Mithun Manhas 107, Manan Sharma 64, Virender Sehwag 1, Gautam Gambhir 31, Ashish Nehra 37, Akshar Patel 6/55) by 114 runs.

Delhi U-25 let UP last pair off the hook in CK Nayudu

After dismissing Uttar Pradesh U-25 for 315 runs in the rain-hit second round match of Col CK Nayudu match, Delhi U-25 lost a wicket early to end Day 2 at 6/1. Aditya Kaushik was caught behind for a duck in the very first over of Delhi innings. Earlier, Delhi allowed UP’s last-wicket pair of AS Mishra and PB Singh put up a century partnership as UP crossed the 300-run mark. At one time, UP were struggling at 213 for 9. Skipper and medium pacer Shelly Shaurya, who has been under fire finished with three wickets for 101 runs, while left-arm spinner Varun Sood took 3 for 65. In fact, UP were 161/8 at one point but Shaurya’s tactic to keep himself on to get more wickets, allowed UP to escape. Now, the onus is on Delhi’s batting which also includes Yogesh Nagar. Nagar had been controversially left out of the team that played the first game against Karnataka.

Scores

Uttar Pradesh 315 all out (AS Mishra 74, PB Singh 57, Shelly Shaurya 3/101, Varun Sood 3/65) lead Delhi U-25 6/1 by 309 runs

 

Delhi in semifinals of Vinoo Mankad Trophy

Continuing their brilliant run in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Delhi U-19 team beat Maharashtra by 35 runs to cruise into the semifinals of the tournament. Delhi began well, putting up 275 runs in their allotted 50 overs at Motera, near Ahmedabad. Himmat Singh and Prashant Bhandari made 57 each to top-score for Delhi.

Himmat, who was the captain of U-16 team last year, has been consistent throughout. He hit two sixes and four fours in his innings that took 87 balls. Prashant Bhandari, who has had to overcome questions over his age, played a brisk knock off 59 balls, hitting five fours. Opener Sarthak Ranjan had again set up a good platform, hitting 42 off 43 balls. In reply, Maharashtra could make only 240 in 47.4 overs. Off-spinner Rajesh Sharma took 5 wickets for 51 runs. Paceman Sarang Rawat took 3 for 47. At a time, when Maharashtra were cruising at 73/1 in the 14^th over, Rajesh provided the breakthrough. Although Prashant Bhandari and left-arm spinner Sumit Mathur got just a wicket each, they were important breakthroughs. Then, Rajesh Sharma and Rawat ran through the innings.

Scores

Delhi U-19 275/8 (Himmat Singh 57, Prashant Bhandari 57, Sarthak Ranjan 42) beat Maharashtra 240 all out in 47.4 overs (M Trunkwala 58, Rajesh Sharma 5/51, Sarang Rawat 3/47)

Rain spoils first day in Delhi U-25’s match against Uttar Pradesh

Rain played spoilsport in Delhi’s match against Uttar Pradesh in the Col CK Nayudu U-25 Trophy in Moradabad. Hosts UP were 95 for 3 as only 26 overs could be bowled. The umpires decided to have 28 overs at around 4 pm but then bad light ended play. There was some good news for Delhi, who were thrashed by Karnataka in the opening tie. Their beleaguered skipper Shelly Shaurya picked two of the three wickets.

Scores

Uttar Pradesh 95/3 (C Chandel 32, Shelly Shaurya 2/31)

Narwal fifer, Nehra double help Delhi put skids on Gujarat in Ranji

For long Sumit Narwal has lived under the shadow of Ashish Nehra and even Parvinder Awana. While Nehra had been an India pacer for long, Awana paid a brief visit to the national team before he was unceremoniously thrown back to domestic fold.

Narwal has never been considered an international material and perhaps may never make it. But he sure will be remembered for being a top Delhi bowler and being part of one of the most potent pace attacks in domestic cricket.

On Thursday, his five wicket haul helped Delhi put the skids on Gujarat in the all-important Ranji Trophy second round match in Surat. The right-arm medium pacer ran through the Gujarat middle-order to reduce hosts to 281 for 7. The hosts were never in the game, thanks to regular fall of wickets. While Narwal took 5 for 56, Nehra got the other two wickets for 47. Y Venugopal Rao made 107 while Manprit Juneja, who plays for Delhi Daredevils, scored 50.  

An elated Narwal told Delhi Cricket, “I stuck to the basics.”

Brief scores

Gujarat 281/7 (Y Venugopala Rao 107, M Juneja 50, Narwal 5/56, Nehra 2/47)

Sarthak, Sumit star as Delhi U-19 thrash Karnataka in Vinoo Mankad

Continuing their rocking form, the Delhi U-19, who were crowned North Zone champions just before Diwali, beat a strong Karnataka outfit in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy knockouts in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Left-arm spinner Sumit Mathur, who represents Rohtak Road Gymkhana in DDCA league, took five for 42 to help dismiss Karnataka for 159 in 46.5 overs. Then, right-handed opener Sarthak Ranjan, who plays for Maulana Azad Club, hammered 96 (with nine sixes) to take Delhi home. The Delhi team chased the target within 28 overs losing just three wickets.

Brief scores

Karnataka U-19 159 in 46.5 overs (A Amnohar 46, S Mathur 5/42)

Delhi U-19 161 for 3 in 27.1 overs (Sarthak Ranjan 96, Pratyush 30*, Himmat 28)

Delhi U-19 team for Vinoo Mankad knockouts

DDCA announced the Delhi Under-19 team that’ll play the knockouts for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy that takes place in Ahmedabad from November 7. The issue over Prashant Bhandari's age has been sorted out as he stays the deputy skipper of the team that topped the zonal tournament in Haryana last week. Coach Rajkumar Sharma has begun preparations with the team. Interestingly, the three players who were called for the last match of North Zone league haven't found a place. Delhi Cricket feels privileged to learn that after it brought out the issue to light, DDCA ensured that no changes were made to the victorious squad again.

Squad: Pratyush Singh (captain), Prashant Bhandari (vice-captain), Hiten Dalal, Rishab Pant, Sarthak Ranjan, Rajesh Sharma, Himant Singh, Hardik Pahwa, Dinesh Mor (wicketkeeper), Priyanshu Vijayran, Sarang Rawat, Abhishek Vats, Sumit Mathur, Mohammad Bilal, Himanshu Sangwan, Tejas Barokha

Delhi U-25 hits low, lose track, get hammered by Karnataka

On Thursday, the Dehi U-25 team had, at lunch time, thought of stretching their legs and relaxing. After having their backs to the wall for most of the game, they had set a tough target of 200-plus in two sessions for Karnataka U-25 in the opening match of the Col CK Nayudu U-25 cricket tournament and looked certain to draw the game and save points.

Over the next couple of hours, they were made to chase leather at Karnataka batsmen’s will and didn’t know how to stop the run-flow that was started by Mayank Agarwal who hammered under-fire skipper Shelly Shaurya for 19 runs in the very first over of the innings to set the tone.

Shaurya’s father, a DDCA member, who had held sports committee to ransom in order to get his son a place in Delhi senior side and captaincy of Delhi U-25 sat in his car, with head buried in his palms. Even in the wildest of imaginations, he wouldn’t have realized such a fate befalling his son as he was tonked to all corners, giving away 59 runs in 6 overs. Karnataka chased the target in under 40 overs, 39.5 to be precise.

Agarwal, an IPL player who says he has gained a lot in the company of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Kevin Pietersen in RCB dressing room, later explained his strategy. “Our plan was to put them onto the backfoot.” After the 19-run over, the inexperienced Delhi skipper budged and had no idea as he brought in spinners very early into the innings and spread the field. A Delhi skipper is expected to be a tough nut, but Shaurya, with his fashionable curly locks, was proving weak and fragile.

Agarwal and KL Rahul were severe. Most of Agarwal’s strokes came through the off-side, longoff and extra cover region.

Eventually by tea, Delhi had only a few to defend. Yogesh Nagar, the most experienced of the lot was the 12^th man and stepped onto the field and starting helping field placings. It was the lowest a team could have reached. A man they ignored for the playing XI, causing controversy, was now being called upon for help.

 Earlier Delhi had made 342, a decent total after they were shot out for 146 in the first essay and later conceded a 131-run lead. The 212-run target shouldn’t have been surpassed but once the skipper let the initiative slip in the very first over, it was going to be all over.

Scores 

Delhi U-25 146 (V Sood 47*, HS Sharath 5/37) & 342 (A Kaushik 63, J Anand 50, V Sood 47*); Karnataka U-25 277 (M Agarwal 94, K Nair 54, J Anand 3/37, V Sood 3/48) & 215/2 (M Agarwal 114*, KL Rahul 71). Karnataka won by eight wickets.