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HP stuns Delhi, opens up qualification race

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh raised its game and pulled the rug from under the feet of a depleted Delhi in a thrilling finish to throw open the race for the two qualifying spots for the knockout stage from the North Zone Twenty20 league at the Palam ground here on Thursday.

Delhi’s five-run defeat, after run-outs off the final two deliveries, left it sharing the top spot at eight points with Himachal, Haryana and Punjab.

With two rounds to go, Haryana enjoys the best net-run rate and plays Delhi when the action resumes after a days rest.

Punjab posts win

After Punjab escaped to a 18-run victory in a low-scoring match against Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana crushed Services by 80 runs on this day, Himachal ended the monotony of expected results.

Chasing Himachals challenging 153 for five, Delhi appeared well on course at the halfway stage.

However, from 86 for one after 10 overs, Delhi lost the plot dramatically after the exit of opener Farman Ahmed (43 off 33 deliveries, one 6, seven 4s).

Former Punjab and Delhi off-spinner Sarandeep Singh, who got rid of openers Shikhar Dhawan earlier and Ahmed, sent back skipper Aakash Chopra (18 off 13 deliveries) to bring Himachal back in the game.

Wickets of Mayank Tehlan (2), Joginder Singh (4), Yogesh Nagar (2) and the dependable Rajat Bhatia (14) fell in quick succession leaving Delhi to get 26 runs off 11 deliveries.

Sumit Narwal kept Delhis hopes alive by scoring a nine-ball 16, including a six off roommate Vikramjit Malik in the final over.

With seven runs needed off two deliveries, Narwal was run out at the strikers end while scampering for the second run. Looking for a six off the final ball, Pradeep Sangwan was run out.

Good knock by Malik

Earlier, Malik (48, one 6, seven 4s) prospered with opener Sangram Singh (44, one 6,two 4s) and added 65 runs for the second wicket.

Sangram and Paras Dogra (31 not out) added to Delhis woes by putting on another 53 runs for the third wicket.

Vineet Indulkar contributed a 5-ball 14 to provide the much-needed flourish towards the end.

The scores: Himachal Pradesh 153 for five in 20 overs (Vikramjit Malik 48, Sangram Singh 44, Paras Dogra 31 not out) beat Delhi 148 for nine in 20 overs (Farman Ahmed 43, Shikhar Dhawan 21, Sarandeep Singh three for 20, Ashok Thakur two for 33).

Punjab 114 for nine in 20 overs (Chandan Mandan 26, Sunny Sohal 25, Samiul Beigh three for 18) beat Jammu & Kashmir 96 in 19 overs (Abid Nabi 23, M. S. Gony three for 15, R. S. Sodhi three for 23).

Haryana 153 for five in 20 overs (Rahul Dewan 34, Ankit Rawat 32, Nitin Saini 31, Joginder Sharma24, Pradeep Sahu 22 not out, Sachin Nadkarni two for 17) beat Services 73 in 19.2 overs (Krishna Chawda 24, Jitender Billa three for 10, Amardeep Sonkar two for seven, Yajuvender Chahal two for 12).

Points tally (after three rounds): 1-4. Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab (8 each), 5. Jammu and Kashmir (4), 6. Services 0.

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