Dharamsala: Out-of-favour Indian batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag struck big half-centuries to drive Delhi home by three wickets against Haryana in the Vijay Hazare one-day tournament, here today.
Chasing 248 for a win, Delhi lost wickets at regular intervals but Gambhir (93) and Sehwag (80) stitched a 144-run second-wicket partnership to help the side achieve its target in 42.1 overs.
Sehwag, 36, who came in at the number three position in the previous game that Delhi lost to Himachal Pradesh at the same venue, was dropped down the order and the dasher struck 8 fours and 3 sixes in his 68-ball blitz.
Meanwhile Gambhir, 33, who last played for India against England in the Oval Test in April this year, is eyeing a World Cup place and impressed with 11 fours in his 97-ball stay.
The Gambhir-led side was looking comfortable at 218 for three when suddenly Haryana pace spearhead Joginder Sharma (4-27) alongwith Mohit Sharma and Kuldeep Hooda turned on the heat to pick four wickets in the space of 36 runs.
Mohit accounted for Gambhir to deny the southpaw his hundred, Hooda sent Sumit Narwal for 8 and then Punit Bisht (6) and Ashish Nehra (0) were scalped by Joginder to put Delhi in trouble at 244 for seven.
Top-order batsmen Unmukt Chand (3) and Milind Kumar (1) also disappointed to give Haryana the edge early on.
Middle-order batsman Mithun Manhas (31 not out) though kept his cool to take the team home with Rajat Bhatia's (2) support.
Earlier put into bat, the Nitin Saini-led Harayna started well with a 65-run opening stand between Abhimanyu Khod (28) and Avi Barot (49) but lack of good partnerships hurt them in the end.
Sachin Rana top-scored with 71 runs while Delhi medium-pacer Vikas Tokas picked up four wickets.
Ashish Nehra and Parvinder Awana also bagged two wickets apiece to put Haryana on the backfoot.
Brief Scores:
Haryana 247 all out in 50 overs (Avi Barot 49, Sachin Rana 71; Vikas Tokas 4-41)
Delhi 251/7 in 42.1 overs (Gautam Gambhir 93, Virender Sehwag 80, Mithun Manhas 31 not out; Joginder Sharma 4-27).
