By Admin 
In its determination to not deteriorate, the pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy fixture between Delhi and Himachal Pradesh bore some resemblance to the one produced for the India versus West Indies Test in the second week of October. On Tuesday, it resulted in Delhi settling for a draw against Himachal in its first home game of the new Ranji season.
With a stalemate inevitable once the host failed to pick up any wickets in the second session of the fourth day, the decision to end proceedings shortly after tea was taken by the on-field umpires in consultation with the captains.
Ironically, it was Himachal that seemed interested in carrying on by the time the tea break was taken. Chasing 343, the visitor was 168 for two in 46 overs, with skipper Ankush Bains and Pukhraj Mann unbeaten on 81 and 76 respectively. As the light faded on another hazy day, however, the teams agreed to a draw at 3.15 p.m.
Disappointed
Though Delhi bagged three points for claiming a first-innings lead, Ayush Badoni and Co. should be disappointed that they weren’t able to force an outright win.
On Tuesday morning, Delhi batted for nine deliveries and added 13 runs to its overnight total of 196 for four before declaring. Even then, the seven-time Ranji champion seemed on course for victory when Money Grewal dismissed Sidhant Purohit and Ankit Kalsi with the new ball.
While Purohit was trapped leg-before wicket in the first over of Himachal’s innings, Kalsi edged a full delivery to Ayush Doseja, later declared player-of-the-match, in the slip cordon. But Bains and Mann didn’t let the early trouble disturb their demeanour, and stitched together an unbroken stand of 160 runs.
For a few overs after lunch, Navdeep Saini even resorted to bowling bouncers in an effort to alter proceedings. But the docile deck had the final say.
The scores:
Delhi — 1st innings: 430.
Himachal — 1st innings: 297.
Delhi — 2nd innings: Arpit Rana lbw b Negi 27, Sanat Sangwan lbw b Negi 1, Ayush Badoni c Divesh b Negi 14, Ayush Doseja (not out) 64, Yash Dhull c Dagar b Arora 70, Anuj Rawat (not out) 18; Extras (w-5, b-6, lb-4): 15; Total (for four wickets decl. in 33.3 overs): 209.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-38, 3-53, 4-178.
Himachal bowling: Arora 5-0-32-1, Negi 11-0-57-3, Dagar 3-1-16-0, Guleria 9.3-1-47-0, Vashisht 2-0-22-0, Divesh 3-0-25-0.
Himachal — 2nd innings (Target 343): Sidhant Purohit lbw b Grewal 0, Ankush Bains (not out) 81, Ankit Kalsi c Doseja b Grewal 6, Pukhraj Mann (not out) 76; Extras (w-1, lb-4): 5; Total (for two wkts. in 46 overs): 168.
Fall of wickets: 0-1, 2-8.
Delhi bowling: Grewal 7-3-31-2, Siddhant 7-1-18-0, Saini 10-0-31-0, Arpit 2-1-7-0, Mathur 5-0-21-0, Badoni 8-1-26-0, Waghela 7-1-30-0.