In the end, Delhi’s gamble of preparing a green wicket paid off, as the Ranji champions, thanks to an all-round show by Sumit Narhwal, defeated Orissa by 52 runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday to register their first win of the season.
Narhwal made a gritty 66 before snaring three wickets to single-handedly turn around a match that, at one stage, looked all but over for the hosts.
But Orissa have only themselves to blame. Having had Delhi, who were seven for 49, on the ropes, the visiting team failed to finish off the tail. Coming in to bat at the fall of Punit Bisht, Narhwal was dropped at deep fine leg by Sameer Mohanty, a mistake that cost Orissa dearly.
The left-hander took his chances and came down severely on Sukanta Khatua, hitting the Orissa medium pacer for three huge sixes. This, an over after he had hit Debasis Mohanty for a towering six and a boundary to midwicket.
Together with Parvinder Awana, Narhwal added 47 runs for the last wicket to help Delhi post 150 in their second innings and give the bowlers a semblance of a chance.
Needing 148 runs to win, the visitors’ innings folded at 96, with Ishant Sharma (4/27), Narhwal (3/25) and Parvinder Awana (2/14) sharing the spoils. Narhwal, who was given the new ball ahead of Pradeep Sangwan, struck right at the beginning when Bikash Swarup Pati was pouched by Sehwag at slips. And that set the ball rolling.
... contd.
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