Delhi beat Services to qualify for Vijay Hazare knock-outs

Bilaspur: Title contenders Delhi comfortably made it to the knock-out stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy by defeating Services courtesy VJD method in their final North Zone leg encounter at the Lohnu ground, here today.

The match was curtailed to 38-overs per side and Services scored 205 for seven in the stipulated overs with Yashpal Singh scoring 52 and Devendra Lochab made 44. In reply, Delhi were 172 for three in 29.5 overs when rain stopped play and they were declared winners as per V Jaydevan rain rule which is applied for domestic matches. According to VJD method, Delhi won by 35 runs and qualified as the runners-up from the North Zone with 17 points to Punjab`s 21. For Delhi, the victory was achieved due to a 130-run second wicket partnership between opener Unmukt Chand, who made a patient 64 off 85 balls and glovesman Puneet Bisht who smashed a run-a-ball 78 after being promoted up the order. While Unmukt`s innings contained eight boundaries, the cheeky Puneet hit six fours and two sixes. By virtue of being one of the four semi-finalists of the last year`s edition, Delhi will be directly playing in the quarter-final of this year`s knock-out competition and are likely to face Mumbai in their last eight clash. Brief Scores: Services 205/7 in 38 overs (Yashpal Singh 52, Devendra Lochab 44, Pradeep Sangwan 3/73) Delhi 172/3 in 29.5 overs (Unmukt Chand 64, Puneet Bisht 85). PTI