Delhi Premier League: Bowlers, Arpit Rana take Purani Dilli to first win

Twenty-year-old Arpit Rana, a former under-19 batsman who got an opportunity in the Delhi Ranji Trophy team in the season gone by, showcased a set of strokes that delighted the onlookers and a mental maturity that took his team Purani Dilli-6 to an easy seven-wicket win over West Delhi Lions on Wednesday, their first victory in the inaugural Delhi Premier League T20 tournament.

Rana scored 56 off 43 balls, not blistering in T20 terms, but an innings full of sumptuous strokes that showed the immense talent the NK Khanna Club boy possesses.

After bowlers from the Mughal-era Delhi side had restricted Lions to 141 thanks to tight bowling in the powerplay, it was left to the batsmen to ensure a sane approach in the middle.

That Rana did, as he cut down risks and scored boundaries in a format and a league known for big shots.

“The thought process I had was that I have to bat normally, and not leave the ball which is in my range. I have to play long and justify the role. That is what my role was,” said Rana after the match.  

“We just thought that we don’t have to stop playing the shots. Have to focus on singles, convert the loose balls into boundaries.”

A few shots that stood out were a dab through point that raced to the fence off Dev Lakra, a four through extra cover off the very next ball, and later a six that went over extra cover through a drive. 

Arpit Rana scored a half-century and moved to second in the list of run-getters

Vansh Bedi powered to 30 off 18 towards the end to propel the team to the target and douse whatever little hopes West Delhi had.

Perhaps one thought that the Lions had missed a trick. Their skipper Hrithik Shokeen, who has represented Mumbai Indians in the IPL and has played 10 first-class matches, bowled well enough to confuse the batsmen.

He removed the well-set Sanat Sangwan stumped and skipper Lalit Yadav caught in the deep, returning with 2/21 in four overs. His impact came a bit too late in the match as old Delhiites had already settled in.

Asked if he regretted bringing himself late, Shokeen said, “Fast bowlers were moving the ball well. We were trying to utilise whatever swing and seam we were getting. When the ball started spinning, I brought myself on.”

Shokeen, who also scored 28, added that he doesn’t look back and regret but instead put the blame on the failure of the batsmen.

“We are playing in our shell, have to break out of it.”

The difference was clear in the powerplay itself. West Delhi Lions were reduced to 26/3. In comparison, Purani Dilli-6 had made 56/1 in the first six overs. This was Purani Dilli' first win in three matches. 

Brief Scores

West Delhi Lions 141/9 in 20 overs (Ekansh Dobal 34 off 14, Hrithik Shokeen 28 off 32, Laxman 3/41) lost to Purani Delhi 6 146/3 in 17.1 overs (Arpit Rana 56* of 43, Vansh Bedi 30* off 18, Hritik Shokeen 2/21)

Tags : Delhi Premier League, Cricket, Arpit Rana, Hrithik Shokeen, Purani Dilli 6, West Delhi Lions, Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ferozeshah Kotla