Bengaluru: Delhi sealed a dominant nine-wicket victory over Haryana on Thursday to top Group D and book their place in the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, marking a strong comeback after failing to qualify for the knockout stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
The emphatic win ensured Delhi finished at the summit of their group and earned a quarterfinal showdown against Vidarbha. The fourth quarterfinal will be played at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on January 13.
Ishant Sharma Rolls Back the Years
Veteran pacer Ishant Sharma was the standout performer, turning back the clock with a fiery spell to claim 3 wickets for 17 runs, earning the Player of the Match award. He was well supported by Navdeep Saini (3/30) and Prince Yadav, as Delhi bundled out Haryana for just 105 runs in 25.4 overs.
Haryana struggled against Delhi’s disciplined pace attack, with Ashish Siwach top-scoring with 33, offering brief resistance in an otherwise one-sided contest.
Nitish Rana Finishes in Style
Chasing a modest target, Delhi made light work of the run chase, reaching 107 for 1 in just 13.3 overs. Nitish Rana remained unbeaten on 57 off 39 balls, steering the team home with ease.
Although Rishabh Pant led the side in this match, the Delhi captain will miss the knockout clash due to national duties, dealing a blow to the team ahead of the quarterfinals.
Saurashtra Also Advance from Group D
The other team to qualify from Group D was Saurashtra, who registered a comprehensive 145-run victory over Gujarat in Alur.
Saurashtra piled up a massive 383 for 4 in 50 overs, powered by a brilliant 112 off 103 balls from Vishwaraj Jadeja at the top of the order. He was ably supported by Prerak Mankad’s explosive 86 off 49 balls and captain Harvik Desai’s 82 off 80 deliveries.
In response, Gujarat were bowled out for 238 in 40 overs, with Chetan Sakariya (3/42) leading the bowling effort. Kshitij Patel’s 42 was the highest score for Gujarat.
Brief Scores
- Haryana: 105 all out in 25.4 overs
(Ashish Siwach 33; Ishant Sharma 3/17, Navdeep Saini 3/30) - Delhi: 107/1 in 13.3 overs
(Nitish Rana 57*), won by nine wickets - Saurashtra: 383/4 in 50 overs
(Vishwaraj Jadeja 112, Harvik Desai 82, Prerak Mankad 86) - Gujarat: 238 all out in 40 overs
(Kshitij Patel 42; Chetan Sakariya 3/42), lost by 145 runs