da fazobetai： Delhi’s new recruit off-spinner Sarandeep Singh spun magic, grabbingsix wickets, to send Services crashing to an innings and 23 run defeatin the North Zone Ranji Trophy League Match at the Palam Ground heretoday
Staff Reporter04-Nov-2001*Sarandeep Singh spins Delhi to victoryDelhi’s new recruit off-spinner Sarandeep Singh spun magic, grabbingsix wickets, to send Services crashing to an innings and 23 run defeatin the North Zone Ranji Trophy League Match at the Palam Ground heretoday.Requiring 170 runs to make Delhi bat again after they made 297 in thefirst innings and followed-on., Services were bundled out for 147 onthe last day. Delhi had scored 467 for five declared in their firstinnings. Unlike in the first three days, the Delhi spinners receivedassistance from the pitch, which had developed cracks and the servicesbatting except Yashpal Singh were bedazzled by the zip, turn, andbounce extracted by Sarandeep, Abishek Sharma and Rahul Sanghvi.Yashpal Singh, who hit 83 facing 182 balls with nine hits to theboundary, was the only one to show some resistance, as seven of hiscolleagues returned with single digits scored.Delhi were bang on target from the very beginning as the bowlersbowled according to the attacking field set by skipper Mithun Manhas.The strategy yielded reward in the seventh over when seamer AmitBandhari trapped opener NP Singh in front of the wicket. Services losttwo more quick wickets as Sarandeep send back Jasveer Singh (2) andPMS Reddy (13) in the space of twelve balls to leave Services reelingat 27 for 3. The offie then struck the crucial blow in the 24th overwhen he rattled the stumps of services skipper Sanjay Verma whoattempted a mighty heave over long-on, bringing Yashpal Singh to thecrease.Yashpal Singh straight away counter-attacked and played some lustyshots to shrug off the early losses and grafted 49 runs with SarabjeetSingh for the fifth wicket. The resistance however was shortlived asSarabjeet Singh edged one to first slip to give young Abishek Sharmahis maiden wicket in first class cricket. Yashpal Singh got nosupport from the other batsmen and with Sarandeep claiming three morevictims the procession towards the pavilion hastened.At 127 for nine, Yashpal Singh went for the big shots in an effort tomake Delhi bat again. He perished in the process, castled byBandhari.*Punjab outclasses Himachal PradeshA Brilliant century knock by Himachal skipper Virender Sharma (122)saved his team from a humiliating innings defeat but could not savethe match as Punjab won the match by 10 wickets and collected eightpoints from their first encounter during North Zone Ranji TrophyLeague Cricket Match at PCA Stadium, Mohali.Himachal resumed their innings from 216 for 5 with overnight not outbatsman Virender Sharma (61) and Paras Dogra (5). Dogra (12) wasfirst to depart with the team total of 246 in 75th over when hesnicked leg spinner Sawal to wicket keeper Dharmani. Rahul Panta (15)joined Virender Sharma and played sensibly. Virender was in attackingmood as he hammered all the bowlers. Virender Sharma while playing his27th Ranji match completed his century in style as he smashed apowerful drive for a boundary at long on fence off Sandeep Sawal.With this be also completed 1000 runs in his Ranji matches.Punjab took the 2nd new ball after 85 overs with the team score on 283for 6 and immediately Vineet Sharma got the wicket of Rahul Panta whowas caught by Vikram Rathour in first slip with the scoreboard reading292.Ravi Kant Sharma walked in at Panta’s departure and showed courage tocome forward and drive on the up. Ravi & Virender added 29 runs forthe 8th wicket when Virender lost his patience and pulled a shortpitched delivery to the waiting square leg fielder Sandeep Sawal offVineet Sharma. Sawal completed the catch and Himachal were still inneed of 8 runs to avoid innings defeat.Vishal Bhatia (0) gave a simple catch at second slips to Dinesh Mongiaoff Gagandeep with the team on 326 for 9. Ashok Thakur (12) came inas last batsman and hit three powerful boundaries to cross theopponents total and at last edged a quicker delivery off Amit Uniyalfor wicket keeper Dharmani.Himachal scored 343 runs in 96.5 overs. Ravi Kant remained not out on24 runs. Amit Uniyal and Vineet Sharma scalped three wickets each atthe cost of 72 & 69 runs respectively. Sandeep Sawal got two wickets,while Gagandeep and Babloo Kumar accounted for one wicket each.Punjab requiring 15 runs to win achieved the target in 4.4 overs, 7minutes after lunch without losing any wickets. Munish Sharma scored10 and Ravneet Ricky scored 6 runs. Punjab will play against servicesat Amritsar from 7th Nov. 2001 to 10th Nov. 2001, while Himachal willface J&K at Mandi from 7th Nov. 2001 to 10th Nov. 2001.