Vijay Hazare Trophy: Delhi thrash Pondy by 179 runs

CHENNAI: Delhi thrashed Pondicherry by 179 runs in their Vijay Hazare Group D clash in Jaipur on Tuesday. Centuries from Nitish Rana (137, 21x4, 1x6) and Dhruv Shorey (132, 13x4, 3x6) helped Delhi score 354-4 batting first before their bowlers dismissed Pondicherry for 175.
The 255-run stand for the third wicket between Rana and Shorey was the turning point in the match. The duo got together in the 6th over after the dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan and Himmat Singh.Rana was the aggressor of the two and Shorey was happy playing the second fiddle. With no demons on the wicket, the two were able to milk the Pondicherry attack for runs on all parts of the ground. Their 220-ball partnership concluded when Shorey departed in the 43rd over. Rana too got out in the very next over.
However, Delhi finished with a flourish thanks to a 66-run stand in just 37 balls between Kshitiz Sharma (27 n.o.) and Lalit Yadav (33 n.o.).
In pursuit of a stiff target, Pondicherry’s chase never got going as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya was the pick of the lot with figures of 4 for 32. He was well-supported by medium-pacers Pradeep Sangwan (2 for 27) and Simarjeet Singh (2 for 47). Suresh Kumar top-scored with 42 for Pondicherry.
Brief scores: Delhi 354-4 in 50 overs (Nitish Rana 137, Dhruv Shorey 132). Pondicherry 175 in 39.3 overs (Suresh Kumar 42, Khejroliya 4-32). Delhi won by 179 runs.