*Sarandeep Singh spins Delhi to victory

Delhi's new recruit off-spinner Sarandeep Singh spun magic, grabbing six wickets, to send Services crashing to an innings and 23 run defeat in the North Zone Ranji Trophy League Match at the Palam Ground here today.

Requiring 170 runs to make Delhi bat again after they made 297 in the first innings and followed-on., Services were bundled out for 147 on the last day. Delhi had scored 467 for five declared in their first innings. Unlike in the first three days, the Delhi spinners received assistance from the pitch, which had developed cracks and the services batting except Yashpal Singh were bedazzled by the zip, turn, and bounce extracted by Sarandeep, Abishek Sharma and Rahul Sanghvi. Yashpal Singh, who hit 83 facing 182 balls with nine hits to the boundary, was the only one to show some resistance, as seven of his colleagues returned with single digits scored.

Delhi were bang on target from the very beginning as the bowlers bowled according to the attacking field set by skipper Mithun Manhas. The strategy yielded reward in the seventh over when seamer Amit Bandhari trapped opener NP Singh in front of the wicket. Services lost two more quick wickets as Sarandeep send back Jasveer Singh (2) and PMS Reddy (13) in the space of twelve balls to leave Services reeling at 27 for 3. The offie then struck the crucial blow in the 24th over when he rattled the stumps of services skipper Sanjay Verma who attempted a mighty heave over long-on, bringing Yashpal Singh to the crease.

Yashpal Singh straight away counter-attacked and played some lusty shots to shrug off the early losses and grafted 49 runs with Sarabjeet Singh for the fifth wicket. The resistance however was shortlived as Sarabjeet Singh edged one to first slip to give young Abishek Sharma his maiden wicket in first class cricket. Yashpal Singh got no support from the other batsmen and with Sarandeep claiming three more victims the procession towards the pavilion hastened.

At 127 for nine, Yashpal Singh went for the big shots in an effort to make Delhi bat again. He perished in the process, castled by Bandhari.

*Punjab outclasses Himachal Pradesh

A Brilliant century knock by Himachal skipper Virender Sharma (122) saved his team from a humiliating innings defeat but could not save the match as Punjab won the match by 10 wickets and collected eight points from their first encounter during North Zone Ranji Trophy League Cricket Match at PCA Stadium, Mohali.

Himachal resumed their innings from 216 for 5 with overnight not out batsman Virender Sharma (61) and Paras Dogra (5). Dogra (12) was first to depart with the team total of 246 in 75th over when he snicked leg spinner Sawal to wicket keeper Dharmani. Rahul Panta (15) joined Virender Sharma and played sensibly. Virender was in attacking mood as he hammered all the bowlers. Virender Sharma while playing his 27th Ranji match completed his century in style as he smashed a powerful drive for a boundary at long on fence off Sandeep Sawal. With this be also completed 1000 runs in his Ranji matches.

Punjab took the 2nd new ball after 85 overs with the team score on 283 for 6 and immediately Vineet Sharma got the wicket of Rahul Panta who was caught by Vikram Rathour in first slip with the scoreboard reading 292.

Ravi Kant Sharma walked in at Panta's departure and showed courage to come forward and drive on the up. Ravi & Virender added 29 runs for the 8th wicket when Virender lost his patience and pulled a short pitched delivery to the waiting square leg fielder Sandeep Sawal off Vineet Sharma. Sawal completed the catch and Himachal were still in need of 8 runs to avoid innings defeat.

Vishal Bhatia (0) gave a simple catch at second slips to Dinesh Mongia off Gagandeep with the team on 326 for 9. Ashok Thakur (12) came in as last batsman and hit three powerful boundaries to cross the opponents total and at last edged a quicker delivery off Amit Uniyal for wicket keeper Dharmani.

Himachal scored 343 runs in 96.5 overs. Ravi Kant remained not out on 24 runs. Amit Uniyal and Vineet Sharma scalped three wickets each at the cost of 72 & 69 runs respectively. Sandeep Sawal got two wickets, while Gagandeep and Babloo Kumar accounted for one wicket each.

Punjab requiring 15 runs to win achieved the target in 4.4 overs, 7 minutes after lunch without losing any wickets. Munish Sharma scored 10 and Ravneet Ricky scored 6 runs. Punjab will play against services at Amritsar from 7th Nov. 2001 to 10th Nov. 2001, while Himachal will face J&K at Mandi from 7th Nov. 2001 to 10th Nov. 2001.

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