Last minute collapse spoils Haryana show

Fast lane: From 241/3,visitors end day one on 256/7 after delhis sangwan,awana strike late

Haryanas talented but rookie batting line-up defied the Delhi attack all day along. But the initiative shifted hands right at the end of the day,when four late wickets took Haryana from a commanding 241/3 to 256/7 at stumps on Day One at the Roshanara Cricket Club.

Delhi’s seamers Pradeep Sangwan and Parvinder Awana spent the last 45 minutes rectifying their early mistakes with the second new ball to rip through the lower middle-order for 31 runs in just 8.5 overs. Haryana ended the day in stark contrast to how they began play,but on a day when eight players were handed out their first-class debuts,Abhimanyu Khod stood head and shoulders above the first-timers.

With his compact stroke-making and shot-selection,Khod impressed one and all during his 68,before a lapse of concentration frittered away 274 minutes of hard labour. Along with top-scorer Sachin Rana (80) and Sunny Singh (51) ensured that Haryana had good opening two sessions to their Ranji campaign,one that ended at stumps with mixed feelings.

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After Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas opted to bowl first,his seamers lacked the skill to induce mistakes from the Haryana batsmen. Awana was the only one who bent his back and was rewarded right at the end. Sangwan seldom bowled the probing line for the first part of the day,but when he did during the end,he ended up scalping three late wickets.

Although openers Nitin Saini and Rahul Dewan couldnt get Haryana off to a good start,Khod and Sunny built the innings with a 44-run stand for the third wicket. Rana took over from where Sunny left,rotating the strike efficiently and also scoring a few delectable strokes through the off-side. He looked good for his hundred before Sangwan dismissed him 20 runs short of the mark. And that triggered off a collapse,one that undid all the good work for Haryana in a matter of few minutes.

Brief scores: Haryana 256/7 in 89 overs (S Rana 80,A Khod 68,P Sangwan 3/54,P Awana 2/72) vs Delhi