Sumit Mathur's all-round show, Ayush Doseja's last-minute entry as Delhi survive scare

Delhi survived a late scare against Kerala in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match in Hyderabad on Saturday to score a 29-run victory and move into fourth place in Group E. They remain in contention for a place in the knockout stage.

Delhi had scored 258/5 in 50 overs as skipper Ayush Badoni (56 off 74 balls), Anuj Rawat (58 not out off 66 balls) and Sumit Mathur (48 not out off 50 balls) made significant contributions.

Perhaps, the most commendable effort came from Ayush Doseja (35 off 37 balls). The left-handed batsman, who represents Ravi Brothers in DDCA League, was playing for Delhi U23 on Friday in Ranchi and scored a half-century against Haryana. After his team got knocked out of the Men’s U23 State A Trophy, he flew down to Hyderabad to play for the senior team on Saturday and was drafted into the squad straightaway. Doseja, who had captained U23s last year, acquitted himself well.

“We (Arpit Rana and him) reached Hyderabad at 2 am. I had indications that I would play, but I wasn’t told till Friday evening that I would be travelling to join the senior team. If we had won yesterday, I’d been playing the knockout for U23s,” said the 22-year-old Doseja, who trains at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan.   

Doseja was told only in the morning that he would play. While the pitch at Ranchi was a batting paradise, this one was different.

“It was a double-paced wicket and we needed to apply. It was a true wicket. We have to stay ready all the time. Today was also my debut at the senior level and I was excited,” added Doseja.  

After the batsmen had scored 258, bowlers shook the Kerala batting, reducing them to three runs for two wickets. By the time the innings was halfway, reaching the end of 26 overs, Kerala were 128/6 and needed 131 runs to win. The game seemed to be in Delhi’s pocket.

But then began their rearguard, one that shook Delhi to the core.

No. 6 Abdul Bazith (90 off 90 balls, 8x4s, 4x6s) and No. 8 Salman Nizar (38 off 52 balls, 5x4s) added 100 runs for the seventh wicket in 15.1 overs. Kerala needed just 31 runs from 53 balls when Prince Yadav, one of the finds for Delhi this season, struck. He dismissed Kerala skipper Nizar for 38 on the second ball of the 42nd over. Two balls later he had No. 9 NM Sharafuddeen for a duck, trapped leg before wicket.

Kerala were on the backfoot but they still had Abdul Bazith at the crease.

Bazith faced India Test bowler Ishant Sharma and on the second ball of the next over, the 43rd, he tried to dab a delivery behind square but missed the line and was bowled. That was it as No. 11 Basil Thampi was retired hurt and could not come out. Thampi had to leave the field after bowling 7.5 overs for 32 runs and a wicket.

Sumit Mathur, who took 2/41 and scored 48 not out, was declared Player of the Match.

Tags : Vijay Hazare Trophy, Delhi cricket, DDCA, Ayush Doseja, Prince Yadav, Ishat Sharma, Abdul Bazith, Kerala cricket