Saurashtra score 10-wicket victory against Delhi, secure five points

Rajkot, Dec 28 (UNI) Saurashtra registered an emphatic ten-wicket victory over former champions Delhi today on the last day of the four-day Super League Ranji encounter, played at Madhavrao Scindia Cricket ground here.

The visitors failed to improve their dismal start and were skittled out for 213 runs after resuming their second innings at the overnight score of 84 for four, shortly after lunch break.

The home team had enforced follow-on after the visitors were dismissed for 288 runs yesterday. Saurashtra had made 492 in their first innings.

Needing ten runs to win, Saurashtra batsmen completed the formalities in three overs without losing any wicket.

Saurashtra secured five points from this match and opened their account in the points tally. Earlier, the hosts had played four matches, three of them at home ground but could not registered any victory due to disappointing performance this season.

However, their first win against formidable Delhi team would boost their moral and they would try to win remaining two matches to be played here against Haryana and Karantaka.

On a turning track, spinners once again stamped their authority on home pitch as left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhruve took five wickets for 67 runs while R Jadeja and Kamlesh Makwana grabbed two wickets each by conceding 38 and 42 runs respectively.

Except Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas, who stood bravely amidst the ruins with a fighting 86, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. His elegant knock of 86 contained one six and ten fours.

Little resistance came from V Kohli who made 35 with the help of three fours before falling to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

Brief Score: Saurashtra: Ist Innings: 492 all out.

Delhi : Ist Innings: 288 all out Delhi: 2nd Innings: 213 all out in 88.3 overs (Mithun Manhas 86, V Kohli 35; S Jobanputra 1 for 29, R Jadeja 2 for 38, R Dhruve 5 for 67, K Makwana 2 for 42) Saurashtra: 2nd Innings: 10 for no loss (C Pujara not out 6, S Jogiani not out 1 and three extras --two leg byes and one no-ball-- ) UNI AV GB DH HT1622