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Hat-trick by Awana, victory for Delhi

Special Correspondent

Nagothane: Delhi medium-pacer Parvinder Awana, deployed in short bursts on Tuesday, came up with a match-winning hat-trick against Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ Super League tie against Maharashtra at the Reliance Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Awana, turning out in only his second first-class match of the national competition, justified his selection ahead of the experienced Amit Bhandari by causing a remarkable turnaround to the keenly-contested match.

On a surface that had deteriorated a little, Awana, who replaced Pradeep Sangwan, removed the determined Vishal Bhilare, Kedar Jadhav and Sairaj Bahutule off successive deliveries to bring cheer to his side that was baulked by the fifth-wicket pair of Yogesh Takawale and Bhilare for one hour and 45 minutes on the fourth and final day.

Leading the table

By virtue of its second win against Maharashtra in eight meetings, Delhi collected five points and took the top position (17 points) in its group. However, the Virender Sehwag-led Delhi side failed to earn the bonus point and even lost three wickets while chasing a small target of 51.

Maharashtra opted to open the attack with left-arm spinner Salil Agharkar.

The overnight pair of Takwale and Bhilare played sensible and spirited cricket, defending and thumping the ball straight down the wicket and over the fielders.

The two rotated the strike and stretched the partnership beyond the 190-run lead Delhi had gained in the first innings.

Their association had produced an exact 100 runs when, Awana bowling round the wicket, trapped the left-handed Bhilare in front.

Jadhav, facing Awana who switched to over the wicket, fell to a superb delivery.

The Delhi speedster, who went back to round the wicket, then consumed Sairaj Bahutule with a ball that hastened off the pitch and hit the top of off-stump.

From 202 for four, Maharashtra stumbled to 202 for seven before getting bowled out for 240.

The most successful Maharashtra bowler in the first innings, Agharkar, tossed the ball to invite Aakash Chopra down the wicket and had him stumped to deny Delhi the bouns point.

Samad Fallah then had Shikhar Dhawan leg before and Agharkar had Rajat Bhatia superbly caught at silly-point by substitute Digambar Waghmare.

Mithun Manhas offered a chance to wicketkeeper More off Agharkar when the score was 23, but he and Mayank Tehlan took their side without further damage.

Maharashtra coach Chandrakant Pandit said: “I had not lost hope of winning the match last evening (Tuesday) and even today. I told Takawale, Bhilare and the other batsmen to play smart cricket in order to give Delhi a target of around 160. But, the loss of three quick wickets changed the course of the match.”

Fourth Delhi bowler

According to BCCI statistician Dinar Gupte, Awana, the winner of the Scorpio speedster contest in 2004, became the fourth Delhi bowler to take a hat-trick in Ranji Trophy.

The three others are Ravinder Pal, brother of Rajinder Pal, performed the feat against Southern Punjab in New Delhi in 1965-66, Bishan Singh Bedi versus Punjab at Chandigarh in 1968-69 and Shankar Saini against Himachal Pradesh in New Delhi in the 1988-89 season.

The scores:

Maharashtra — 1st innings: 219.

Delhi — 1st innings: 409.

Maharashtra — 2nd innings: V. More b Awana 27, H. Khadiwale lbw b Sangwan 0, H. Kanitkar st. Bisht b Nanda 50, V. Rao lbw b Sangwan 13, Y. Takawale lbw b Nanda 75, V. Bhilare lbw b Awana 34, K. Jadhav lbw b Awana, S. Bahutule b Awana 0, S. Agharkar b Nanda 17, S. Fallah (not out) 4, W. Sayyeed b Nanda 1; Extras (b-7, lb-7, nb-2, w-3): 19; Total (in 74.3 overs): 240.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-63, 3-98, 4-102, 5-202, 6-202, 7-202, 8-222, 9-237.

Delhi bowling: Sangwan 17-5-46-2, Awana 16-2-62-4, Nanda 23.3- 4-70-4, Bhatia 3-2-1-0, Sehwag 1-0-5-0, Narinder 14-2-42-0.

Delhi — 2nd innings: A. Chopra st. More b Agharkar 2, S. Dhawan lbw b Fallah 7, R. Bhatia c sub (Waghmare) b Agharkar 3, M. Manhas (not out) 13, M. Tehlan (not out) 13; Extras (b-4, nb-8, w-1): 13; Total (for three wkts. in 14.5 overs): 51.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-12, 3-20.

Maharashtra bowling: Agharkar 7.5-2-14-2, Fallah 4-0-16-1, Bahutule 2-0-12-0, Sayyeed 1-0-5-0.

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