The Hindu : Delhi has to tread a tightrope

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 26, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Delhi has to tread a tightrope

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV. 25. Railways forced Delhi on the defensive for the better part of the third day's play and gradually tightened its grip over the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite group match at the Karnail Singh Stadium here on Tuesday.

After Railways resumed its first innings at 200 for nine and prospered to 234 to take a 39-run lead, Delhi could only manage 198 for six in 82.1 overs. Just 159 runs ahead with four wickets in hand, Delhi will have to tread carefully on the final day.

Escaping an outright defeat is surely going to be its first priority. On the other hand, Railways will be happy to chase a target of around 200 runs.

Delhi failed in its objectives today. In the morning, it allowed the pair of Zakir Hussain and Kulamani Parida to add valuable runs and then could not score briskly in order to make up for the lost time.

Though Vijay Dahiya (61, seven 4s) was associated in two fruitful partnerships — 53 runs for the second wicket with opener Salil Oberoi (36, four 4s) and 61 for the fourth, with Pradeep Chawla (48 batting, five 4s) — Delhi could not make a match of it.

The dismissals of Dahiya, Varun Kumar and N.S. Negi in the space of 32 runs pegged back Delhi even further.

Harvinder Singh was the pick of Railway bowlers. The disciplined effort of the medium pacer fetched him three wickets in 18 overs.

The scores: Delhi 195 and 198 for six (Vijay Dahiya 61, Pradeep Chawla 48 batting, Salil Oberoi 36, Harvinder Singh three for 38) v Railways 234.

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