Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Oct 30: Orissa bowlers maintained a tight line and length and restricted table-toppers Delhi to 99 for one in 48.2 overs in their Ranji Trophy tie on a day when rain and bad light curtailed play at the KIIT Cricket Stadium here Friday.
Put into bat, Delhi openers, Dhruv Shorey (42, 114b, 7×4) and Gautam Gambhir (35 batting, 148b, 3×4) put on 74 runs for the first wicket to give the hosts a firm but slow start.
The Delhi innings however, never took off and they could only manage a run rate of 2.05/over against some disciplined bowling from the Orissa bowlers. Pace spearhead Basant Mohanty (1/31) cleaned up Shorey in the 40th over, but new man Nitish Rana (15 batting, 29b, 2×4) and bad light made sure that the visitors did not suffer any more casualties before stumps.
Delhi, who conceded three points to Bengal in their previous encounter at Feroz Shah Kotla, will be looking for their third outright win in their fifth game this season, while Biplab Samantaray-led Orissa, who are placed sixth in the group table, are looking for a better showing to improve their standing.
