Paliwal and Dhull centuries as Delhi and Services play out draw in Palam

At 3.15 p.m. on Thursday, Delhi and Services drew their Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C match at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam, with Rajat Paliwal and Yash Dhull each scoring centuries. The game was abandoned shortly after Dhull reached three figures.

Services posted 266 in their first innings and Delhi replied with 344; Services then declared their second innings at 397 for nine, setting Delhi a target of 320 from 54 overs. Delhi finished on 168 for four in 37 overs.

Rajat Paliwal, the 34-year-old skipper who resumed on 62 overnight, compiled 116 in Services’ second innings before being dismissed shortly after lunch; the side declared at that point. Mohit Ahlawat scored 142 and Ravi Chauhan made 56 as part of Services’ 397 for nine declared.

Delhi’s chase began with Priyansh Arya hitting a maximum off Pulkit Narang but being caught at deep square-leg for 15 off Jayant Goyat, and Ayush Badoni was trapped lbw by Arjun Sharma in the 11th over for 17. Yash Dhull, unbeaten on 104 off as many deliveries, steered part-time off-spinner Nitin Tanwar for four to reach his hundred before umpires ended the contest.

Dhull had managed only 103 runs in his first five innings this season prior to this innings, and his unbeaten 104 ended that lean run. At one point, with Dhull on 72 and Services requiring six more wickets for an outright win, the teams were prepared to shake hands before umpires asked play to continue for another 40-odd minutes.

Delhi’s bowling in Services’ second innings produced figures of Saini 18-2-79-3, Shokeen 20-4-76-2, Lakra 13-3-37-0, Aman 36-2-123-3, Badoni 2-0-17-0, Mathur 6.1-0-31-1, Priyansh 3-0-17-0 and Doseja 1-0-10-0. Services’ bowlers in Delhi’s chase returned Narang 14-3-49-0, Goyat 5-0-35-1, Virender 2-0-13-0, Arjun 7.4-0-38-1 and Tanwar 8.2-0-31-1.

The stalemate handed Ayush Badoni & Co. three points for securing the first-innings lead, while Services added one point.