DPL: Pace bowler Aayush Singh swings it Purani Dilli 6's way

Pace bowler Aayush Singh shook the North Delhi Strikers top-order, picking two early wickets before returning to take another wicket later, as his team Purani Dilli 6 restricted North Delhi Strikers to just 130/7 in 20 overs before chasing the target in 14.2 overs for the loss of four wickets.

Aayush, who has been with Sonnet for the last few years and plays mostly for Times of India in DDCA League, got rid of opener Vaibhav Kandpal (0) and No. 3 Yash Dabas (0) to leave Strikers at five runs for two wickets.

The tall Aayush, standing at six feet, has the ability to move the ball both ways and that was evident early on.

Lalit Yadav then removed Vaibhav Rawal (6 off 8) in the fifth over, and Yash Bhatia (0 off 7) fell to Yug Gupta in the next over. North Delhi Strikers were then left at 23/4.

It was then left to Sarthak Ranjan (56 off 40) and wicketkeeper-batsman Pranav Rajvanshi (41) to take the team to their eventual total in the allotted 18 overs.

Ranjan took the lead while Rajvanshi provided solid support as they stitched a gritty fifth-wicket partnership of 73 off 54 balls. Ranjan, who was given a lifeline at 46 through a missed caught and bowled chance, reached his fifty in 34 balls in the 13th over. North Delhi Strikers crossed the 100-run mark in the 15th over, but in the same over, Ranjan was dismissed after a brilliant 56 off 40 balls.

Pranshu Vijayran followed Ranjan to the pavilion after scoring 14 off 9 balls, while Rajvanshi was run out in the final over.

Siddhant Sharma's quickfire 11 off 4 balls guided North Delhi Strikers to a respectable total of 130/7.

Anirudh Chowdhary provided North Delhi Strikers with crucial early breakthroughs, dismissing Arnav Bugga (eight off five balls) and Arpit Rana (19 off 12). However, Purani Dilli 6 maintained an aggressive approach and reached the 50-run mark by the end of the five-over powerplay in the match shortened to 18 overs.

Keshav Dalal and Lalit Yadav kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace. Dalal brought up his fifty in 30 balls during the 11th over, leaving Purani Dilli 6 needing just 29 runs from 42 balls.

However, Dalal was caught behind off Chowdhary’s bowling in the 13th over after playing a remarkable knock of 59 off 36 balls. Mayank Gusain (0 off 1) followed in the very next delivery, as Chowdhary claimed his fourth wicket of the match.

Skipper Yadav, who started slow, accelerated with a flurry of boundaries in the following overs. His unbeaten 44 off 31 balls ensured Purani Dilli 6 chased down the target in just 14.2 overs.

Brief Scores

North Delhi Strikers 130/7 in 18 overs (Sarthak Ranjan 56 off 40, Pranav Rajvanshi 41 off 35, Aayush Singh 3/34) lost to Purani Dilli 6 136/4 in 14.2 overs (Keshav Dalal 59 off 36, Lalit Yadav 44* off 31, Anirudh Chowdhary 4/30) by six wickets

Tags : Delhi Premier League, DPL, Cricket, Ayush Singh, Sarthak Ranjan, Purani Dilli 6, North Delhi Strikers, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ferozeshah Kotla