The Hindu : Sport : A day to cherish for Delhi

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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A day to cherish for Delhi

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

HAPPY BUNCH: The Delhi players are ecstatic after booking a semifinal berth.

Chennai: Delhi played the key moments of the contest better to enter the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy. The visitor defeated Tamil Nadu by eight wickets in a last round Group ‘A’ Super League match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday.

Delhi required just 91 minutes on the final day to knock off the 95 runs required to reach the target of 105. The side has advanced to the last four stage for the first time since the 2002-2003 season.

With five points from the game, Delhi took its tally to 23. Tamil Nadu stayed on 13.

The host picked up two wickets on Friday but rarely threatened. The technically pleasing opener, Aakash Chopra, was dismissed in a freakish manner while attempting a sweep off off-spinner S. Suresh Kumar.

The Gautam Gambhir (40, 55b, 7x4) miscued one from left-arm spinner C. Suresh.

Mithun Manhas blitzed a 21-ball unbetan 32 and and Shikhar Dhawan (14 not out) ended the match with a flicked boundary off Suresh Kumar.

The joy in the Delhi camp reflected a sense of achievement. Said coach Vijay Dahiya, “We had a camp at the beginning of the season where we decided not to talk about individuals.

“In the past few years, Delhi has produced around 10 cricketers who went on to play for the country but Delhi cricket did not move forward. This season we stressed on team work. We have come back from difficult situations consistently this season. The side has grown in belief.”

Raman disappointed

For Tamil Nadu, the defeat marked the end of its Ranji season. Coach W.V. Raman was an unhappy man. He said: “What was disappointing was the lack of personal and professional pride among the State cricketers. There was a lack of application of mind. This also sheds light on the very ordinary level of local cricket, including the first division league, here.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 268.

Delhi — 1st innings: 338.

Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: 174.

Delhi — 2nd innings: A. Chopra c Srinivasan b Suresh Kumar 16, G. Gambhir c Yomahesh b C. Suresh 40, S. Dhawan (not out) 14, M. Manhas (not out) 32; Extras (nb-3): 3; Total (for two wkts in 25.5 overs): 105.

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-64.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Yomahesh 7-1-23-0, Amarnath 6-2-14-0, Suresh Kumar 6.5-0-38-1, C. Suresh 6-1-30-1.

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