Delhi beat Saurashtra for season's first victory
A resurgent Delhi scored their first win of the season, inflicting an eight-wicket defeat on Saurashtra on the fourth and last day of the Ranji Trophy Super League tie at the Roshanara club here Friday.
In roller-coaster four days, Delhi were pulled out of a shambles by Puneet Bisht and Pradeep Sangwan's 141-run eighth wicket partnership that ensured them a 55-run lead before the bowlers packed off Saurashtra for 214 in the second innings Friday morning.
With Delhi needing 161 to win from 74 overs, opener Aditya Julka (33) and Virat Kohli (88 not out, 12x4, 2x6) scored at a brisk pace, taking 16 overs to reach 82 for the loss of opener Aditya Jain (10) by lunch. Julka was dismissed by a brilliant single-handed catch by Ravindra Jadeja (1-34) in his follow through but Kohli led the charge and with Mithun Manhas (23 not out, 3x 4), took Delhi to a much-needed victory in nearly an hour after lunch.
The writing was on the wall for Saurashtra as they began the final day at 181 for seven with overnight pair of Prateek Shah and Sandeep Maniar. The visitors barely survived 67 minutes this morning. Parvinder Awana (3-48) got Maniar (15) caught in the gully by skipper Kohli and then Pawan Suyal (4-41) removed Balakrishna Jadeja (2) and Jayesh Odedra (0) within four balls in the 62nd over to end the Saurashtra innings.
Shah, remained unbeaten on 41 but it was not enough to save his team from an imminent defeat.
The win would do a world of good to Delhi's confidence, who suffered an innings defeat at the hands of Uttar Pradesh in the last match.
The ghosts of that embarrassing loss against Uttar Pradesh returned to haunt Delhi on the second day after Odedra (6-92) ran through the Delhi batting to leave them reeling at 262 for seven in reply to Saurashtra's first innings total of 328 all out.
But Bisht (120) and Sangwan (55) defied the Saurashtra attack and then Delhi's four-pronged attack of Suyal, Awana, Sangwan (2-49) and Sumit Narwal (1-44) rocked Saurashtra.
The win fetched Delhi five points to take their tally to nine from four matches. They jumped to third place in group B.
"After bowling out Saurashtra in the second innings, we wanted to wrap up the match fast so we decided to score the runs quickly."
Kohli, who was leading the side for the first time, said he enjoyed the new responsibility.
"Besides scoring the runs, I have to see other things as well. It is tough but I enjoyed the job."
Delhi next plays bottom-placed Maharashtra here Tuesday.
