JOIN USThe immensely talented Unmukt Chand again showed his ability to rise to the occasion as his stroke-filled century guided Delhi to the final of the NKP Salve Challenger series with a thumping 112-run win over India ‘Red’ in the last round robin league match here on Saturday.
The Virat Kohli-led side will meet Yuvraj Singh’s India ‘Blue’ in the final.
Courtesy Unmukt’s 119 and skipper Virat Kohli’s useful 63, Delhi piled up a huge total of 342 for six in 50 overs after being put in to bat. Milind Kumar with a 52-ball-57 and Rajat Bhatia with an unbeaten 19-ball-40 also beefed up the score in the end.
In reply, India ‘Red’ were all out for 230 in 40.1 overs with Gurkeerat Singh (83) making an effort to resist the inevitable.
While veteran seamer Ashish Nehra (4/38) provided early breakthroughs, left-arm spinner Varun Sood (5/84) took vital wickets in the middle-order.
The day belonged 20-year-old Unmukt who faced 131 balls hitting 12 boundaries and three sixes.
Senior pro Virender Sehwag (8) failed while Gautam Gambhir (20) continued his woeful form.
However, Kohli was in his fluent self as he hit 63 off only 55 balls with five fours and two sixes -- one each of off-spinner Yusuf Pathan and left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, who has been in good form.
At the other end, Unmukt launched into India pacer Umesh Yadav (1/85), who had a horrible day in the office, spraying the ball all over the place. Chand was severe on the pacer.
He played some flowing cover drives but was also not afraid to play the lofted stroke. Unmukt hoicked Abhimanyu Mithun for couple of sixes -- one over mid-wicket while the other was straight over the bowler’s head.