Bains, Mann step up as Himachal forces a draw against Delhi

In its determination to not deteriorate, the transportation astatine the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy fixture betwixt Delhi and Himachal Pradesh bore immoderate resemblance to the 1 produced for the India versus West Indies Test successful the 2nd week of October. On Tuesday, it resulted successful Delhi settling for a gully against Himachal successful its archetypal location crippled of the new Ranji season.

With a stalemate inevitable erstwhile the big failed to prime up immoderate wickets successful the 2nd league of the 4th day, the determination to extremity proceedings soon aft beverage was taken by the on-field umpires successful consultation with the captains.

Ironically, it was Himachal that seemed funny successful carrying connected by the clip the beverage interruption was taken. Chasing 343, the visitant was 168 for 2 successful 46 overs, with skipper Ankush Bains and Pukhraj Mann unbeaten connected 81 and 76 respectively. As the airy faded connected different hazy day, however, the teams agreed to a gully astatine 3.15 p.m.

Disappointed

Though Delhi bagged 3 points for claiming a first-innings lead, Ayush Badoni and Co. should beryllium disappointed that they weren’t capable to unit an outright win.

On Tuesday morning, Delhi batted for 9 deliveries and added 13 runs to its overnight full of 196 for 4 earlier declaring. Even then, the seven-time Ranji champion seemed connected people for triumph erstwhile Money Grewal dismissed Sidhant Purohit and Ankit Kalsi with the caller ball.

While Purohit was trapped leg-before wicket successful the archetypal implicit of Himachal’s innings, Kalsi edged a afloat transportation to Ayush Doseja, aboriginal declared player-of-the-match, successful the gaffe cordon. But Bains and Mann didn’t fto the aboriginal occupation disturb their demeanour, and stitched unneurotic an unbroken basal of 160 runs.

For a fewer overs aft lunch, Navdeep Saini even resorted to bowling bouncers successful an effort to change proceedings. But the docile platform had the last say.

The scores:

Delhi — 1st innings: 430.

Himachal — 1st innings: 297.

Delhi — 2nd innings: Arpit Rana lbw b Negi 27, Sanat Sangwan lbw b Negi 1, Ayush Badoni c Divesh b Negi 14, Ayush Doseja (not out) 64, Yash Dhull c Dagar b Arora 70, Anuj Rawat (not out) 18; Extras (w-5, b-6, lb-4): 15; Total (for 4 wickets decl. successful 33.3 overs): 209.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-38, 3-53, 4-178.

Himachal bowling: Arora 5-0-32-1, Negi 11-0-57-3, Dagar 3-1-16-0, Guleria 9.3-1-47-0, Vashisht 2-0-22-0, Divesh 3-0-25-0.

Himachal — 2nd innings (Target 343): Sidhant Purohit lbw b Grewal 0, Ankush Bains (not out) 81, Ankit Kalsi c Doseja b Grewal 6, Pukhraj Mann (not out) 76; Extras (w-1, lb-4): 5; Total (for two wkts. successful 46 overs): 168.

Fall of wickets: 0-1, 2-8.

Delhi bowling: Grewal 7-3-31-2, Siddhant 7-1-18-0, Saini 10-0-31-0, Arpit 2-1-7-0, Mathur 5-0-21-0, Badoni 8-1-26-0, Waghela 7-1-30-0.