Majestic Yash Dhull, gritty Ayush Doseja set Delhi on course for outright win

New Delhi: There was a phase in Delhi’s innings when Himachal Pradesh bowlers tried to put up a fight after their batting line-up had thrown their wickets away recklessly to concede a 133-run lead in the first session on Sunday, the third day of the ongoing Ranji Trophy match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground.

Pace bowler Arpit Guleria was steaming in from the Kotla Fort end after off-spin bowler Mukul Negi had picked three early wickets to have Delhi reeling at 53/3. He hit left-handed batsman Ayush Doseja on the helmet in his second over, the 13th of the innings. In his next over, he hit him on the pads, appealing fervently and followed it up with one that reared up to force a pop-up from Doseja that fell in no man’s land. The very next ball whizzed past the left-handed batsman, who has made a great start to his first-class career.

It looked as though Delhi, who started the innings looking for quick runs through Arpit Rana, were pegged back and they had to probably defend hard to avoid any mishap in second innings.

This was just before tea.

But the tables turned in the last session as the two Delhi batsmen – Yash Dhull and Doseja -- came out, their bats wrapped in aggression.

Yash Dhull (70 off 59 balls, 8x4s, 2x6s), who was trying to break the shackles but missing suddenly found the strings and played an innings laced with beautiful strokes. His glides past the cordon and inside out over extra cover was a delight to watch and he moved around the crease to create runs, in the process disturbing the bowlers’ lengths.

The gritty Doseja, who scored a double ton on debut last week and followed it up with a 75 in the first innings, too broke restraint and started with a beautiful cover drive against the spin through extra cover.

He carved a few fours through the off-side during his unbeaten 62 off 73 balls (8x4s). He also used his customary dabs to good effect.

Together, the two put on a 125-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Dhull was caught at deep extra cover off pace bowler Vaibhav Arora trying to up the run rate as Delhi eye an outright win.

Himachal were left deflated and the captain Ankush Bains did not help matters by sending the fielders out at the boundary and bowling the pace bowlers. If he had to keep the fielders out, then bringing on spinners would have been a better approach as miscued hits could have resulted in wickets. With pacers in operation there were hardly any chances. Surprisingly, he also did not bowl his most experienced spinner, the left-armer Mayank Dagar.

Dagar, who also bats, had looked aggressive during his 13-ball stay at the crease. He scored 28, hitting three fours in a row against Delhi’s game-changing pace bowler Navdeep Saini (3/52). He was, however, caught in the deep. Dagar wasn’t the only one to waste his wicket. Two run-outs, including one of Ekant Sen where the non-striker refused his call to mid-on, was also the cause of them falling for just 297 despite resuming at 165/3.

Delhi may bat for half an hour on the last day, set a target of 350 runs – they are now 196/4, 329 ahead, and look to take 10 Himachal wickets.  

Tags : Yash Dhull, Ayush Badoni, Cricket, Delhi, Ranji Trophy, Himachal Pradesh, Mayank Dagar