JOIN US Delhi and Punjab qualified for the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare cricket tournament with convincing wins in their respective pre-quarterfinal matches here on Monday.
Delhi routed Assam by eight wickets at the Feroze Shah Kotla while Punjab, riding on an all-round show by Harbhajan Singh, knocked out Maharashtra at the Palam Ground. Delhi will face Railways while Punjab will take on Hyderabad in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
Harbhajan did himself a world of good as he starred both with bat and ball to lead Punjab to victory in a keenly contested encounter. The off-spinner picked up three wickets before hitting a crucial unbeaten 79 to be adjudged the man of the match.
Opting to bat, Maharashtra were restricted to 186 for nine in 50 overs. The offie took three for 35 in 10 overs while India’s young leg-spinner Rahul Sharma, who joined the squad on Sunday morning after arriving from Australia, picked up two for 45.
Harbhajan also rescued the team with his 94-ball knock after Punjab were reduced to 69 for six in the 21st over.
At the Kotla, Assam, put in, failed to handle the medium-pace of Pradeep Sangwan (2/9) and Rajat Bhatia (2/13) and were skittled for 94.
Young leg-spinner Varun Sood (4/36) was the man of the match as he wrecked the middle-order by picking up three wickets in nine balls. Left-arm spinner Pawan Negi got two for 12.
Delhi achieved the target with ease, scoring 96 in 20.2 overs losing two wickets.
Brief scores: Assam: 94 all out in 32.5 overs (Pradeep Sangwan 2-13, Rajat Bhatia 2-9, Varun Sood 4-36, Pawan Negi 2-12) lt to Delhi: 96/2 in 20.2 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 42 n.o.).
Maharashtra: 186/9 in 50 overs (Harshad Khadiwale 36, Kedar Jadhav 41, Nikhil Paradkar 42; Rahul Sharma 2-45, Harbhajan Singh 3-35) lt to Punjab: 192/8 in 48.2 overs (Taruwar Kohli 46, Harbhajan Singh 79 n.o.; Anupam Sanklecha 2-21, Mohsin Sayyed 3-41, Chirag Khurana 2-40).