Skipper Abhiraj hits ton but leaves task undone; Sehwag’s younger son among wickets

The Delhi under-16 team won their last league match of the Vijay Merchant Trophy against Chhattisgarh for their first victory this season, but failed to make it to the knockout stage by a whisker. Skipper Abhiraj Gagan Singh, the centurion in the first innings, made probably ‘the’ mistake of the season for Delhi cricket by playing a shot that stopped them from advancing.

The star of the match, played at Shimoga's JNN College of Engineering Ground, proved to be Vedant Sehwag, the younger son of ex-India batsman Virender Sehwag. He picked nine wickets to give Delhi a strong chance of making it to the next stage.

Vedant took 4/58 in the first innings as Chhattisgarh folded for 197. Nakul Yadav. Adhyan Bali and Ashmit Jindal took two wickets each.

Delhi had earlier made 377 in their first innings with Abhiraj scoring 101, Agasthya Vats making 85, Janav hitting 58 and Garv Kumar scoring 40. Aaryan Sharma (39) and Prince Mishra (38) also made important runs towards the end.

Having secured a 180-run lead on first innings, the Delhiites then enforced on Chhattisgarh the follow on. Vedant Sehwag picked 5/61 while Adhyan Bali took 3/52 as the boys from central India folded for 214.

Delhi needed 35 to win. Importantly, they needed to win by 10 wickets and secure a bonus point and move ahead of second-placed Chandigarh who had 15 points. A bonus point would have taken Delhi to 16 and into the knockouts.

Failure to get a bonus point in the win would have kept them level on points with Chandigarh but behind them in the table as Chandigarh already had a bonus point. As per rules, team with more bonus advances in case of tie on points.

Delhi began well and at 34/0, it looked the deal was done and they were going to Ahmedabad. They just needed one run to secure that much-needed bonus. But something crossed the mind of skipper Abhiraj, who had promoted himself to open the innings, and he played across the line to render a top edge and be dismissed.

Delhi finished third behind Punjab and Chandigarh.

Garv Kumar was Delhi’s highest run-getter, scoring 388 in five matches with one century and three fifties. He averaged 48.5.

Abhiraj Gagan Singh aggregated 375 in five matches at an average of 75 to be second highest run-getter in Delhi. He scored three centuries and a fifty.

While Garv ranks 16 Abhiraj is 18 in list of run-getters at all-India level as on December 31, 2024.

Among bowlers, Vedant Sehwag emerged as the highest wicket-taker for Delhi with 19 scalps at an average of 21.42. He got two four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. He ranked 21 at all-India level.  

Dhruv Bindra and Nakul Yadav, with 10 wickets each were next best for Delhi although they rank 90th and 91st at all-India level.

Tags : Delhi cricket, DDCA, Vedant Sehwag, Abhiraj Gagan Singh, Vijay Merchant Trophy, Delhi under-16, Virender Sehwag