A collective effort by Delhi's batsmen ensured that they comfortably chased down a mammoth Railways total with 4 wickets in hand in the opening group C match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, here today.
Railways scored 210 for two in 20 overs on one of the flattest of decks with No 3 batsman Saurabh Wakaskar scoring 118 off 55 balls with seven boundaries and 11 sixes. He added 185 runs with former RCB player Asad Pathan (85).
Two of Delhi's most consistent bowlers -- left-arm spinners Manan Shama (0/55 in 4 overs) and Pawan Negi (1/48 in 3 overs) were taken to task by Wakaskar.
Even Ashish Nehra (0/32 in 4 overs) looked ordinary on a batting belter.
However Delhi chased down the target in 19.2 overs as almost all the batsmen save skipper Gautam Gambhir (10), who is out of form, scored runs.
Opener Unmukt Chand started the chase with a 19-ball-38 with four boundaries and three sixes. Nitish Rana with a whirlwind 34 off 15 balls that included four sixes also played his part.
But it was young right-hander Aditya Kaushik, who impressed one and all. With 53 off 36 balls that included five boundaries and a six as he held the innings during middle overs.
The defining partnership was between Pawan Negi (35 no off 18 balls) and Milind Kumar (23 off 17 balls) as they added 61 runs in 4.5 overs to take the match away from Railways.
It was pint-sized Negi, who finished the match with his fifth boundary off the second delivery of the final over bowled by Anureet Singh.
Brief Scores: Railways 210/2 in 20 overs (Saurabh Wakaskar 118, Asad Pathan 85, Nehra 0/32 in 4 overs)
Delhi 214/6 in 19.2 overs (Aditya Kaushik 53, Pawan Negi 35 no, Unmukt Chand 38, Krishnakant Upadhyay 2/36).
Delhi beat Railways by 4 wkts.
