Delhi make sound start

NEW DELHI, December 4: The top-order of Delhi’s batting clicked as the hosts made a sound reply to Punjab’s first innings total of 323 in their North Zone Merchant Trophy (u-16) league match at Ferozeshah Kotla here today. At the end of the penultimate day, Delhi had made 220 for two and look confident of gaining the vital first innings lead.

Openers Salil Oberoi (62: 9×4, 174m) and Rajat Jaiswal (37: 4×4, 120m) shared a stand of 105 in 30.3 overs and then Rajiv Uniyal (batting 59: 7×4, 210m) and left-handed Kunal Bhardwaj (batting 29: 3×4, 154m) have already put on 75 runs for the unbroken third wicket to place Delhi in a comfortable position.

Delhi batsmen faced no problem against the friendly-looking Punjab attack and could have been in a much happier position had Uniyal (member of Chand Khanna Club) and Bhardwaj (son of former East Zone cricketer Anil Bhardwaj) been more free in their stroke-play and not defensive in their final session. Opener Salil Oberoi played combined caution with aggression before he was caught. Punjab tried seven bowlers in an effort to break the third wicket stand but failed in their effort.