Nehra, Awana skittle out Baroda as Delhi get six points

New Delhi: A fiery spell by speedster Parvinder Awana (5/52) and an equally impressive effort from the seasoned Ashish Nehra (3/61) saw Delhi register their first outright win in this year`s Ranji Trophy beating Baroda by 10 wickets.

Delhi, who had only four points in their kitty from the first three matches now have 10 points from four matches. Baroda stay on eight points from four games. Starting the day at a precarious 81 for four, Baroda were shot out for 144 in only 47.5 overs leaving Delhi with a target of 48. Unmukt Chand (17 no) and Shikhar Dhawan (28 no) ensured that Delhi were not denied a bonus point. If Punit Bisht`s herculean effort set up the game for Delhi, it was Awana and Nehra who blew away the opponents with their pace and swing. Nehra in fact had a match-haul of nine wickets and this would certainly keep the selectors interested when they decided on ODI team for the last two ODI matches versus West Indies as well as the CB series in Australia. The slide started with rival skipper Pinal Shah (10) nicked one from Nehra to Bisht behind the stumps. First innings centurion Rakesh Solanki (36) again emerged as the top-scorer for Baroda before he became the sixth batsman to be dismissed as he failed to negotiate Nehra`s swing. The injured Ambati Rayudu (4) played a loose shot as Nehra dug one short and he tried to hit over deep fine leg only to be holed out by Awana. At 128 for seven, the end was near and Awana who had kept the pressure at one end blasted the tail. First he trapped Irfan Pathan leg before while Abhijit Karambelkar and Bhargav Bhatt couldn`t come to terms with his pace as Bisht ended a dream match with double century and eight victims behind the stumps. Skipper Mithun Manhas was a relieved man after his team`s first outright win. "Punit played an exceptional innings. As far as Ashish is concerned, his presence always helps as he would always speak to the bowler standing at mid-of or mid-on and plot a batsman`s dismissal. Day`s cricket is all about winning more sessions than the other team. That has eventually helped us win this game," Manhas said. However, Delhi might not get the services Nehra in the next match against Madhya Pradesh at Indore from December 6. Although Mithun denied any such development but Nehra who has always been reluctant player in longer version is not sure whether his body will be able to take back to back first-class matches with only three day gap (which includes travelling). PTI