Sehwag keeps Haryana in the hunt against Delhi

Haryana on Friday bounced back after a low first-innings total as their bowlers bundled out Delhi for 237, conceding a slender lead which was overpowered with visiting skipper Virender Sehwag standing firm at the end of second days play of the Ranji Trophy league game here on Friday.

Getting over a 42-run lead, Haryana were 68 for two at stumps with Sehwag (29 not out) and Himanshu Rana (12 not out) battling it out at Feroz Shah Kotla. They lead by 26 runs. Earlier starting on their overnight score of 22 for no loss, Delhi rode on Unmukt Chand’s 68 to just about get ahead of Haryana’s first innings score of 195.

Skipper Gautam Gambhir (18) was the first to go this morning after being trapped LBW off Ashish Hooda, while Mohit Ahlawat departed for a duck off the same bowler.

Hooda was helped by pace spearhead Harshal Patel as the opening bowling duo bagged three wickets apiece.

Delhi’s middle-order wobbled, but Nitish Rana struck a gutsy 48 and some lower-order resistance from Pradeep Sangwan (34) and Sarang Rawat (26) saw the hosts get ahead of Haryana.

Meanwhile, Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik hit a <g data-gr-id="43">strokeful</g> 167 to help Tamil Nadu post a mammoth 434 on Day 2 against Ranji giants Mumbai in the Group A league encounter here on Friday.

Also, Pacer Krishna Das returned with a seven-wicket haul as Assam bundled out Odisha for 88 and then reached 137 for eight in their second innings on the second day of the Group A Ranji Trophy cricket encounter here on Friday. In Mohali, In-form Parthiv Patel (113) his second century in a row as Gujarat scored 467 before Punjab made a strong reply by ending the day two of their Ranji Trophy Group B match at 131 for one, here on Friday.

Meanwhile, hosts Bengal’s hope of earning six points from their outing against Rajasthan was virtually dashed as rain interrupted proceedings for the second successive day with only 16.2 overs of play possible in their group A Ranji Trophy match at Eden Gardens on Friday. 

The visitors were 140/5 from 59.4 overs after day two, leaving the home team frustrated and it would now be seeking three points by virtue of a first-innings lead.