The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Delhi Giants halts Heroes

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Delhi Giants halts Heroes

Special Correspondent

GURGAON: Debutant Dhruv Mahajan got rid of Stuart Binny and Chris Harris in succession in the final over to script an exciting seven-run victory for Delhi Giants in its key match against Hyderabad Heroes in the Indian Cricket League’s Edelweiss 20s Challenge at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here on Monday.

Chasing Giants’ 137 for eight in 20 overs, Heroes overcame early setbacks to reach a stage where it needed 15 runs off the final over.

Man-of-the-Match Mahajan, who had earlier scored 36 runs, bowled his off-cutters to have Binny and Harris caught at long-on off the first two deliveries and ensured there were no more hiccup for his team.

When Heroes began its chase, medium pacer T. Sudhindra struck three times in the space of 10 deliveries to brighten prospects of Giants scoring its third victory.

From 17 for four in five overs, Heroes made a match of it once Binny and Justin Kemp raised 61 runs for the fifth wicket.

Thereafter, wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik had a hand in two key dismissals. When speedster Shane Bond came for his second spell, Yagnik caught a snick by Kemp and then stumped dangerman Abdul Razzak off Jai Prakash Yadav to leave Heroes struggling at 84 for six.

Thereafter, Binny and Harris did their bit before Mahajan came along and changed it all.

The result kept Giants in the race for a place in the semifinals and helped it match Heroes’ tally of six points. These two teams, along with defending champion Chennai Superstars, runner-up Chandigarh Lions and Kolkata Tigers are fighting for the three available semifinal spots.

Earlier, Mahajan top-scored for Giants with a 33-ball 36 that included a six and a four boundaries. Gunawardene (28, two 4s) and Mahajan added 61 runs for the second wicket but Giants failed to finish its innings with a flourish after Razzaq took four wickets.

Brief scores: Delhi Giants 137 for eight in 20 overs (Dhruv Mahajan 36, Avishka Gunawardene 28, Abdul Razzaq four for 23) beat Hyderabad Heroes 130 for eight in 20 overs (Stuart Binny 50, Justin Kemp 33, Chris Harris 20, T. Sudhindra three for 25, Dhruv Mahajan two for 13).

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