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Tuesday, Dec 13, 2005

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Delhi earns its first points

Sports Reporter

Defiant knock by Hrishikesh Kanitkar

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar played a defiant unbeaten knock to help his team force a draw in the Elite Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match against Delhi at the Jamia Millia Ground here on Monday.

After two rounds without a point, Delhi finally logged two points against its name by virtue of the first innings lead. Maharashtra, however, is yet to open its account for this season.

Batting practice

Having conceded a huge lead to Delhi and that a lot of overs were lost due to fading light, Maharashtra decided it was best get some batting practice. Kanitkar, who failed with the bat in the first innings, led from the front and stuck on to one end to carry the bat through. Kanitkar went in at the fall of the first wicket and negotiated the Delhi attack throughout the day before the two skippers decided to call it a day.

Resuming at 17 without loss, Maharashtra openers, Mansingh Nigde and Dhiraj Jadhav, put up 72 runs for the first wicket before Jadhav watched his stumps being rattled by Chetanya Nanda. Jadhav made 45 runs off 114 balls with four boundaries.

Delhi saw some ray of hope when Mukesh Dewan had Nigde (35) caught behind with 90 runs on the board. Two more wickets fell in succession, but Dhruv Mohan (39) joined his captain and arrested the fall. The two had 67-run stand for the fifth wicket before Aakash Chopra trapped Mohan leg before wicket.

Able ally

Kanitkar, however, had other ideas and though next man, Kaushik Aphale fell cheaply after scoring seven runs, the skipper found an able ally in Munaf Patel. The fast bowler seemed to have carried on with his good batting form from the first innings. Patel (30 not out) and Kanitkar batted through and just when the mandatory overs began, Bhandari came up with the offer.

The scores: Maharashtra — 1st innings: 208

Delhi — 1st innings: 370

Maharashtra — 2nd innings: M. Nigde c Varun b Dewan 35, D. Jadhav b Nanda 45, H. Kanitkar (not out) 73, A. Kale c Dhawan b Nanda 4, S. Bahutule lbw b Nanda 0, D. Mohan lbw b Chopra 39, K. Aphale c Varun b Bhandari 7, S. Satbhai b Lall 0, M. Patel (not out) 30; Extras (b-4, lb-4, nb-8) 16; Total (for seven wickets in 104 overs) 249.

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-90, 3-104, 4-104, 5-171, 6-190, 7-198.

Delhi bowling: Bhandari 22-2-77-1, Kuunal 20-8-43-1, Dewan 10-1-27-1, Nanda 27-12-46-3, Manhas 2-1-1-0, Bhatia 15-8-16-0, Chopra 7-0-31-1, Dhawan 1-1-0-0.

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