Himachal’s lower order keeps Delhi at bay

NEWDELHI: A gritty show from the Himachal Pradesh lower-order did not allow Delhi to enforce the follow-on in a Group B match of the Ranji Trophy here Tuesday.

At stumps on day two, Himachal Pradesh were 216 for 8 in reply to Delhi’s first innings score of 317.

Delhi captain Nitish Rana will certainly feel that an opportunity to enforce follow on was lost after HP were reduced to 58 for 6.

Rishi Dhawan (64, 114 balls) and Ekant Sen (46, 71 balls) added 95 runs for the visitors, much to the frustration of the home team.

Mayank Dagar (21 batting) and Pankaj Jaswal (23 batting) added 35 runs for the ninth wicket to give the total some semblance of respectability.

Left arm spinner Varun Sood (4/53) was the pick of the bowlers. The other slow left arm orthodox bowler, Vikas Mishra (2/65 in 21 overs), was also in his element.

Ishant Sharma (1/38 in 11 overs) was impressive in short bursts and distinctly unlucky as some of the edges didn’t carry to keeper or the slips.

The senior fast bowler looked in good rhythm and got a lot of deliveries to straighten after pitching on the seam.

Delhi would rue the fact that they didn’t go for the kill when Himachal were under the pump.

Most of the top order batsmen got out playing poor shots even though there was some hint of turn.

REDDY HITS DOUBLE

TIRUNELVELI: Skipper Akshath Reddy’s marathon double ton (248 not out) was the highlight of Hyderabad’s massive total of 523

for 7 in the first innings against Tamil Nadu in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘B’ match here.

Resuming at the overnight 249 for 3, the visitors continued to pile on the misery of Tamil Nadu’s bowlers as Akshath and B Sandeep (130) extended their partnership to 246 runs. Akshath continued his good form into the second day and added eight boundaries to his overnight 14 and also hoisted two more sixers.

The mammoth partnership was ended when Sandeep gave a catch to B Aparajith of the hardworking M Mohammed’s bowling. Mystery bowler C V Varun, making his debut, who could not create any impact yesterday, earned his maiden wicket, when he dismissed Akash Bhandari for 17. Akshath was involved in a century partnership for the seventh wicket with Saaketh (42) to put Hyderabad in command.