Awana's late strikes help Delhi restrict Haryana to 219/6

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Speedster Parvinder Awana's latestrikes towards the end of the day's play helped Delhi restrict Haryan to 219 for six at stumps on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Group league match at the Bansi Lal Stadium in Lahli.

Awana removed Sachin Rana and rival captain Amit Mishra in quick succession with the second new ball as the hosts frittered away a good start provided by openers Rahul Dewan (71) and Nitin Saini (45).

The duo added 69 runs for the opening stand but save Rahil Dalal (42 batting), the others didn't make any significant contribution.

Awana finished the day on three for 39 from 17 overs. The pitch was dry in nature which forced Delhi management to include off-spinner Manoj Chauhan who gave away 89 runs in 27 overs. Although the young off-spinner was successful in beating the batsman on a few occasions, he wasn't consistently giving the ball air or inviting the batsmen to drive.

While the dogged Dewan batted for more than four hours for his 170-ball-71 which had six boundaries, Haryana batsmen never managed to force the pace and as a result don't have too many board at the end of the first day's play.

The day started with Saini and Dewan giving a solid start and the breakthrough came in the 23rd over. Saina drove an Awana delivery uppishly towards mid-off where Rajat Bhatia took the catch.

Dewan and Sunny Singh (28) then added another 50 runs before Sunny was cleaned up by Sumit Narwal as the burly Bhiwani boy was bowled through the gate.

The resilient Dewan was finally out of the last delivery of the 59th over when left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra bowled him as the opener deagged the ball onto his stumps.

The highlight of the day certainly will be veteran all-rounder Rajat Bhatia bowling off-breaks for five overs rather than his normal military medium stuff.

Gauging that there is some turn on offer, the intelligent Bhatia bowled proper off-breaks and invited Abhimanyu Khod (15) to drive one and the resultant nick was gobbled up by Puneet Bisht.

If Delhi can restrict Haryan with 250, Shikhar Dhawan and his boys can think of notching up an outright win.

Brief Scores: Haryan 219/6 (Rahul Dewan 71, Nitin Saini 45, Rahul Dalal 42 batting, Parvidner Awana 3/39) vs Delhi.