During Delhi's last two matches at Roshanara,Rajat Bhatia had been stationed as a close-in fielder. On Sunday too,he started off at short leg against Punjab's openers. From there,Bhatia witnessed Punjab's first two wickets falling in just four overs. Then Uday Kaul and Sandeep Sharma hung in,as Punjab got to 18/2 in the ninth over. Gautam Gambhir rested Ashish Nehra,who had picked one wicket until then,and gave the ball to Bhatia. Where other Punjab batsman found it difficult to handle Nehra and Sumit Narwal in overcast conditions,Sharma fared better. He shouldered arms to Nehra,dropped his bat down on deliveries which rose steeply and defended with soft hands. Gambhir's move paid off immediately as Bhatia picked up two quick wickets (2/4),sending back Sharma and Yuvraj Singh in only his first over. Sharma scooped the ball straight to Awana at mid-on while Yuvraj was trapped in front. After Bhatia's quick strikes Nehra (4/31) and Parwinder Awana (3/20) came back to clean up the visitors for 74 in 26.4 overs. This was the second game in a row that the visiting team,batting first on the Roshanara track have been bowled out for less than 100. Vidarbha made 88 in the previous game at the same ground in the first innings. The lateral movement combined with dim light and heavy conditions made it difficult for Punjab. Besides Vohra,no other batsmen looked in control. Vohra struck around for 70 minute stay before he lost patience and compulsively pulled a rising delivery by Awana. Three balls later Awana got Gurkeerat caught behind. Nehra then cleaned Mandeep Singh with a sharp incutter on 11. Jaskaran Buttar fell in similar fashion next ball. Punjab had lost four wickets in two overs and were 34/8 in 16 overs. For a while it looked Punjab might not be able to reach fifty but thanks to some lusty hitting by Manpreet Gony (29 in 24 balls),the side avoided complete humiliation. Delhi began shakily as Gambhir was dropped on 6 at second slip off Gony but couldn't make the most of it,when he edged Gony to third slip later. Vaibhav Rawal struck two crisp boundaries of Sidharth Kaul before falling to a short delivery. Brief scores: Punjab 74 all out in 26.4 overs (M Gony 29,M Vohra 16; A Nehra 4/31,P Awana 3/20,R Bhatia 2/4) vs Delhi 46/2 in 16 overs (U Chand batting 21,M Manhas batting 6; M Gony 1/17,S Kaul 1/19) DDCA elections: Bansal to contest against Bedi The incumbent at DDCA,Arun Jaitley,made it clear that he wouldn't contest the presidential elections at the AGM scheduled on December 30,but he has proposed the name of Sneh Bansal who will run against Bishan Singh Bedi. Before the announcement,it was rumoured that Bedi might be elected unopposed for the post "I have filed my nominations on Sunday at DDCA and I am very confident about the elections. My candidature was proposed by Arun Jaitley," Bansal confirmed.
