Chandigarh colts show fight

Tribune News Service 
Chandigarh, October 12

Openers Arnav Bansal and Kabir Kalsi scored unbeaten half-centuries as hosts Chandigarh fought back after Mohammad Saif and Krish Yadav helped Delhi declare their first innings closed at 500/8 on the second and penultimate day of their Vijay Merchant Trophy match here today.

Playing at the Sector 16 stadium, Bansal and Kalsi stitched an unbeaten 120-run partnership to lay a solid foundation for the Chandigarh innings. 

At the close of play, Bansal was batting on 59 and Kalsi was not out on 56.

Earlier, resuming at overnight 254/5, Saif and Yadav continued to grind the Chandigarh attack. The duo batted with authority and scored runs at will to pile on the misery on their opponents. 

Yadav, who was batting on 83 yesterday, took 52 more balls to complete his century as the visitors crossed the 300-run mark in the 17th over of the day.  

After the first hour’s play, Delhi picked up pace and entered the lunch interval at 414/5. 

The duo added another 21 runs to the visitors’ tally before Paras dismissed Yadav for 185 runs to bring an end to a massive 373-run sixth-wicket partnership.

Yadav’s 338-ball stay in the middle was studded with 24 boundaries and a six.

Saif, meanwhile, brought up his double century and together with Ruben Massey and skipper Saksham Singroha (14) added some quick runs to the Delhi total as the visitors eventually declared their innings closed on 500/8. Saif remained unbeaten on 221. 

For Chandigarh, Neel Dhaliwal (2/38) and Ansh Khosla (2/105) took two wickets apiece, while Nishunk Birla (1/89), Paras (1/113) and Kalsi (1/58) claimed one wicket each. 

Brief scores: Delhi 500/8 decl (Mohd Saif  221*, Krish Yadav 185; Neel 38/2, Ansh 105/2) vs Chandigarh 120/0 (Arnav Bansal 59*, Kabir Kalsi 56*)