LIVE SCORE

September 26, 2008

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the crucial figure of the Indian lower middle order has gained some valuable confidence ahead of the 4-Test Series against Australia. The wicket keeper batsman scored a delightful 84 while earning an important 149 minutes of match practice in the middle. Dhoni's knock ensured that Rest of India gave a huge target of 378 on what was a spinner's track.

Rest of India were taken to a safe zone by the industrious Rahul Dravid, who had scored 69 batting through nearly 5 hours in the middle. India overall benefited so far from the three days of this Irani Cup match with key players warming up nicely before the bigger contest against Australia. Rest of India had resumed the third day's play at 99 for 1 which was a lead of 174. Ishant Sharma provided a double breakthrough with his pace, bounce and movement which was too good for Badrinath (36 from 92 balls with 5 fours) and Mohammad Kaif (0) which reduced ROI to 111 for 3 in the first half an hour or so. However, Delhi couldn't take advantage of the inroads created by Ishant as their bowling was not so great to take wickets in a hurry barring Ishant. They were also up against Dravid and Laxman, who registered a 41-run stand that took the lead to 227. Laxman failed to convert his start again and had to settle for a disappointing 18 (from 35 balls).

Delhi had lost the plot for sure when MS Dhoni made up for his first innings failure with a disciplined approach alongside Dravid. It took a very good delivery from leg spinner Chetanya Nanda to find an unusual outside edge off a Dravid (69 from 211 balls with 6 fours) cut shot to break the 5th wicket partnership which was worth 55. After Dravid's exit, it was all upto Dhoni to extend the lead all alone which he did with his entertaining 84 from 113 balls which had 12 fours and a six. Dhoni could have easily gone onto score a hundred but for a loose cut shot he had played away from his body off a slower delivery from Ishant which went straight to gully. Rest of India finished at 302 in 92.5 overs with a nice cameo of 24 (from 22 balls with 4 fours) coming in from no. 10 RP Singh. For Delhi, Chetanya Nanda made an impression of himself on the big stage with a five-wicket haul but he does have a long way to become much more penetrative with his leg breaks. Ishant Sharma maintained his high standards through his 3 for 52 besides bowling 7 maidens out of his 21 overs.

Delhi were as such one down when they started their chase of 378 as Akash Chopra had sprained his ankle while fielding. That incident had forced Sehwag to open the innings with Gambhir and the former didn't last long enough to make any damage. It was Zaheer Khan instead, who decided to lift his game and the left armer caught Sehwag in his crease with a lovely skidding delivery that had him dead infront of middle. Sehwag lasted just the 6 balls this time. Zaheer in no time had the vulnerable Virat Kohli (16 from 27) in his pocket as well as the youngster lacked the class to handle the quality pace bowler. The bowling from Zaheer and Munaf was superb, especially when the ball started to reverse swing. Gautam Gambhir, who is searching for some form battled hard to end up nicely with a confidence boosting 51 not out (from 87 balls with 8 fours) at stumps. Gambhir found some assistance from Rajat Bhatia, who made 31 (from 69 balls with 5 fours) before the latter was caught down the legside by Dhoni off Harbhajan Singh in the last ball of the day's play. Delhi ended at 113 for 3 in 31 overs with Rest requiring only six more wickets on the fourth day to win the Trophy.