Date:16/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/16/stories/2007021605382200.htm

Sport - Cricket

NZ ODI league resumes today

MOHALI: The weather is back to normal and so will be cricket, after incessant rains over three days had forced rescheduling of the North Zone One-Day league championship. After a break of five days, Delhi and Punjab will resume their contest in the key match of the league, at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium here on Friday.

All the six teams have two points from the first set of abandoned matches when rains came midway through the first innings.

Though Thursday had bright sunshine throughout, the outfield at the PCA stadium was still damp forcing the teams to practice indoors. The ground staff was at work, trimming the overgrown grass and marking the lines.

Last year, Delhi finished third behind Punjab and Haryana, despite having a better-rated team.

Punjab on the other hand should revel in home conditionsAt Chandigarh's Sector 16 stadium, Himachal and Haryana will square off in their second league match. Himachal will be the team to watch.

Patiala will be the third venue, hosting Services and Jammu and Kashmir after Ludhiana was ruled out following flooding of the stadium there.

The teams (from): Delhi: S. Dhawan (capt.), M. Manhas, P.J. Sangwan, A. Jain, A. Bali, A. Bhandari, R. Bhatia, P. Bisht, A. Chopra, G. Gambhir, K. Lal, C. Nanda, A. Nehra, K. Rawat, M. Tehlan.

Punjab: P. Dharmani (capt.), L. Ablish, G. Singh, K. Goel, G. Gupta, U. Kaul, I. Malhotra, D. Mongia, R. Sharma, R. Ricky, R. Sharma, V.R.V. Singh, R.S. Sodhi, A. Uniyal, V. Sharma. — Principal Correspondent