Delhi, who struggled to reach the knockout stage of the Ranji Trophy this season, look a different side in the shorter version. On Friday, they beat Himachal Pradesh by eight wickets at the Kotla to win their third consecutive game with a bonus point in the North Zone leg of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The hosts inducted medium-pacer Pawan Suyal as the experienced Ashish Nehra didn’t turn up because of fever. After Delhi won the toss, pacer Parwinder Awana had Himachal openers Prashant Chopra and Abhinav Bali caught behind.
Suyal, playing his first game after being out for more than a year with a knee injury, scalped S Sriram as Shikhar Dhawan held an edge in the slips.
Himachal were all out for 103 in the 40th over.
{{/usCountry}}Himachal were all out for 103 in the 40th over.
{{/usCountry}}Delhi openers Unmukt Chand and Shikhar Dhawan played some good strokes. Delhi lost the wickets of Unmukt (27) and Manan Sharma (6). Dhawan, who scored a half-century, and Mithun Manhas then saw the team home.
Delhi announced two changes to their squad for the next two games. Sunny Sehrawat was included for injured pacer Pradeep Sangwan and Pawan Negi came in place of Mohit Sharma. Brief Scores: HP 103 in 39.1 overs (Vikramjeet 24; Awana 3-22) lost to Delhi 107/2 in 25.3 (Dhawan 55 not out)