Delhi steer clear of relegation

Skipper Virat Kohli struck a dominating 88 not out,with 12 boundaries and two sixes,as Delhi knocked off the required runs in 32 overs,finishing at 161 for 2 after a tame surrender by famed Saurashtra batting line-up on a greenish track at the Roshanara Cricket Club. Kohli went into the attack,disrupting the Saurashtra pace attacks set-pieces,and being specially harsh on first-innings hero Jayesh Odedra by punishing him for 19 off two overs. Mithun Manhas,returning from injury,looked sharp at the other end during his unbeaten 23.

Kohli reached his half-century off just 45 balls with seven boundaries and a six soon after lunch. Debutant opener Ankur Julka scored a 33 peppered with both stroke-making versatility and solid defence. Makeshift opener Aditya Jain missed out dismissed for 10 as Sandeep Jobanputras sole victim in a match in which he bowled 39 overs.

Earlier on Friday,the Delhi bowlers had sponged the last dew drops,bowling 14 overs to pick up the last three wickets as Saurashtras second innings closed at 214. The visitors lasted this long only because of a a dropped catch by Rajat Bhatia at leg slip,and a few half-chances that werent taken as overnight batsman Prateek Mehta trudged along to an unbeaten 41.

Sandeep Maniar scored 15 before Parwinder Awana got him to fend a delivery to Kohli at gully. Pawan Suyal,coming in from the other end,then knocked off the remaining two tail-enders in five deliveries to finish with four for 41 his best figures in first-class cricket.

Delhi now have nine points from four matches and will host Maharashtra in their next match from December 8 at the same venue.

Brief scores: Saurashtra 328 and 214 (Chirag Pathak 43,Prateek Mehta 41 not out; Pawan Suyal 4/41,Parwinder Awana 3/48); Delhi 338 and 161/2 (Virat Kohli 88 not out).