Delhi registers thrilling victory over Punjab

Ludhiana: Delhi registered a thrilling victory over last year's zonal champions Punjab by a wicket with a ball to space in their fourth one-day Ranji Trophy league tie at the Punjab Agriculture University stadium here today.

Electing to bat, Punjab were all out for 259 in 49.3 overs. Delhi reached their target in 49.5 overs for the loss of nine wickets. Delhi needed ten runs of the last over which was bowled by Sandeep Sharma. Last man Rajesh Gehlot hit a six taking his team to the victory.

Punjab skipper and opener Vikram Rathour scored a quickfire 65 off 76 balls which included two sixes and seven hits to the fence and middle order batsman Pankaj Dharmani blasted 69 of an equal number of balls with the help of a six and five boundaries. Harbhajan Singh and Dinesh Mongia chipped in 23 and 33 of 17 and 30 balls respectively.

For Delhi skipper Ajay Sharma claimed five wickets of 32 runs in 5.3 overs while medium pacer Ashish Nehra took two wickets by giving 43 runs.

Delhi started on a shaky note as opener Vijay Dahiya was adjudged leg before off Rajinder Pal Singh when the score was ten. The second wicket partnership of 134 runs between Ashi Dani and Neeraj Chawla propped up the innings. Both batsmen made identical scores of 64. Dani's knock contained nine fours while Chawla hit seven fours. The last pair of Ashish Nehra (17*) and Rajesh Gahlot( 7*) took their team to victory with only a ball left.

With this win Delhi have earned 8 points from four matches and Punjab collected six points from same number of encounters.