Milind takes Delhi to third win on the trot

An all-round dominant performance from the host saw Delhi crush Maharashtra by five wickets and become joint leader on 16 points after registering its third win on the trot in Group C of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here on Thursday.

Chasing 195, Milind Kumar ensured there would be no hiccups for the host with two 59-run partnerships for the fourth and sixth wickets.

Milind, who scored his second limited-overs half-century of the season, remained unbeaten on an almost run-a-ball 58 but was content playing within his limitations in both the partnerships.

Driving with ease through the cover, Milind took control of the scoring and rotating the strike, opting to play along the ground for his boundaries.

Dhruv Shorey matched him with forceful shots before being run out for 57 on his own call.

But Pawan Negi, who earlier took three wickets, launched into an attack with three fours, two off them off successive balls from Nikit Dhumal on either side of the pitch.

Deservedly, the winning shot came from Milind, who finished in style with a six over long-on off Dominic Muthuswamy.

Useful contributions

Maharashtra’s batting faltered again with only opener Swapnil Gugale and captain Kedar Jadhav managing useful contributions.

And Delhi’s left-arm spinner Manan Sharma, the most successful bowler for the home side, was involved in both dismissals.

“I was able to get both turn and bounce from the pitch and only concentrated on bowling wicket to wicket. I had done the same during the Ranji Trophy matches and I knew I could dry up the runs and put pressure on the batsmen by doing so,” Manan said.

Jadhav, currently the season’s highest scorer, was the penultimate wicket to fall for 48, caught by Manan in the slips trying to cut Ashish Nehra. Gugale nicked an edge off Manan on 44. With three of the top-four batsmen, the spinner was satisfied with his effort in the crucial game that kept Delhi in the race for the knockouts.

At the two adjacent Palam pitches, Vidarbha chasing 88 thrashed Andhra by 10 wickets to overhaul the target in 19.2 overs and Baroda went past Tripura’s score of 58 in just seven overs with both matches getting over before the designated lunch time.