Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120156341600.htm

Sport - Cricket

Outright win for Delhi

Special Correspondent

— Photo: S. Subramanium

PRICELESS KNOCK: Sumit Narwal swung his bat around to contribute an invaluable unbeaten 66 off 75 balls against Orissa.

NEW DELHI: Delhi, riding on a splendid batting show by Sumit Narwal, scored a 52-run victory over Orissa to collect five crucial points from its Ranji Trophy super league match at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Sunday. That the match was over with two days to spare was a reflection on the quality of the contest.

Narwal, a hard-working cricketer who made it to the team solely on the insistence of Gautam Gambhir when the latter was the skipper last season, swung the contest Delhi’s way with a priceless 66 off 75 balls with four fours and four sixes. His knock gave Delhi the breathing space as Orissa was set a target of 149. The visiting team lacked the will to battle it out.

It could well have been a different story had substitute Samir Mohanty not dropped Narwal when the batsman was on 26 in Delhi’s score of 103 for eight.

Walking in at No. 8, Narwal had swung his bat around to garner runs in a desperate manner and this reprieve allowed him to add another 40 runs to his account.

Delhi prospered to set Orissa a competitive target on a pitch that demanded utmost application. But Ishant Sharma struck early by removing S.S. Das and Delhi did not allow Orissa any escape route. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Orissa caved in with light fading sharply.

Delhi skipper Sehwag was lavish in his praise for Narwal. “We won because of his outstanding innings. He looks a very good prospect because he has shown that he has the potential to become a reliable all-rounder. I like his enthusiasm.

“He wants to be in the thick of action all the time and wants to improve. We play for the same institution too (ONGC) and there is no doubt that his contribution in this match has been stellar. I am looking forward to some bigger exploits from him this season,” said Sehwag.

Delhi and Orissa now have nine points each with two matches in hand.

The scores:

Delhi — 1st innings: 78.

Orissa — 1st innings: 80.

Delhi — 2nd innings: A. Chopra c Dhiraj b D. Mohanty 6, G. Gambhir b B. Mohanty 0, V. Sehwag b D. Mohanty 32, V. Kohli b Khatua 0, Mithun Manhas b Khatua 0, R. Bhatia lbw b B. Mohanty 6, P. Bisht b D. Mohanty 0, S. Narwal (not out) 66, P. Sangwan c Haldar Das b Khatua 15, Ishant c Haldar Das b Khatua 5, P. Awana lbw b D. Mohanty 1; Extras (b-6, lb-7, nb-6): 19; Total (in 44.5 overs): 150.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-19, 3-28, 4-28, 5-49, 6-49, 7-49, 8-83, 9-103.

Orissa bowling: Debasish Mohanty 17.5-10-31-4, Basant Mohanty 13-2-47-2, S. Khatua 13-2-58-4, Behera 1-0-1-0.

Orissa — 2nd innings: B. Pati c Sehwag b Narwal 2, S.S. Das lbw b Ishant 1, N. Behera b Narwal 19, S. Biswal b Ishant 4, P. Mullick lbw b Narwal 0, P. Jayachandra (not out) 19, Haldar Das b Awana 19, S. Khatua lbw b Awana 0, Debasish Mohanty lbw b Ishant 6, Basant Mohanty (run out) 11, Dhiraj b Ishant 0; Extras (b-13, lb-2): 15; Total (in 31.1 overs): 96.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-10, 3-26, 4-26, 5-30, 6-51, 7-51, 8-66, 9-84.

Delhi bowling: Narwal 11-3-25-3, Ishant 11.1-3-27-4, Sangwan 2-0-12-0, Awana 5-2-14-2, Bhatia 2-1-3-0.