Delhi snatch five first innings points from Haryana

Delhi managed to quell Haryana's spirited challenge for the first innings lead on the final day of their North Zone Ranji Trophy league tie at Gurgaon. Spinners Rahul Sanghvi and Virender Shewag managed to hustle out Haryana for 339, just ten runs short of Delhi. The visitors then leisurely proceeded to 147/2 in 55 overs as the match descended into a soporific draw.

Resuming at 300/7, Haryana's hopes were pinned on Ishan Ganda, unbeaten on 54 overnight. He and Feroze Ghyas took the score to 338, at which moment the hosts would have thought they had five first innings points in the bag. But they lost three wickets in the space of 3.5 overs for the addition of a solitary run.

Ganda was last out, bowled by Sanghvi for 62, the left arm spinner finishing with 3/61. Akash Chopra (65 not out) and Ashu Dani (54) took the opportunity to indulge in some useful batting practise, adding 113 for the first wicket. Dani fell for 54 and Pradeep Chawla soon followed in the only dents Haryana were able to make in almost four hours on the field.

Earlier on the third day, Haryana had moved from 98/2 to 300/7, mainly on the efforts of skipper Parender Singh and Ganda. One-drop Jasvir Singh fell for 68 in the tenth over of the day to Ashish Nehra. The left arm seamer grabbed one more wicket later in the day, finishing the innings with figures of 4/93.

All four victims were caught by skipper and wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya. It was another good outing for Nehra after having mopped up eight wickets in Delhi's earlier victory over Services. Parender shouldered the Haryana innings with a manful 73 (199 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) before being trapped leg before by Robin Singh jr.