Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) The toss once again proved decisive in a Vijay Hazare Trophy last eight match here Wednesday as Delhi, opting to bowl, defeated Railways by seven wickets to enter the semifinals.

It was more or less a repeat of the Mumbai-Karnataka quarterfinal Tuesday with the toss deciding the outcome of the game. Delhi dismissed Railways for 175 and then cantered home in 37.4 overs with India opener Gautam Gambhir making an unbeaten 34 off 57 balls. Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with 69 while Mohit Sharma contributed 36.

“The toss has been a crucial factor in all the matches here. There was still some winter nip in the air and the ball moved even more this morning than it did yesterday. We were lucky to win the toss and put them in,” said Dhawan, who looked solid in the middle in his run-a-ball knock that included eight fours and a six over long on.

While Rohit Sharma did not bat in Tuesday’s match, all eyes were on Gambhir ahead of the Asia Cup beginning Sunday in Dhaka.

The southpaw spent more than an hour at the crease after the other two left-hand openers Dhawan and Sharma put on 97 runs for the first wicket.

Gambhir, who chose to play in the domestic game despite having a decent run in the one-dayers in Australia, had to work hard for his runs against an ordinary attack, consuming 57 balls in the process. Out of his three boundaries, one was the winning stroke, a flick.

Earlier, Railways were tottering at 55 for six with Parvinder Awana (2/20) and Pawan Suyal (2/36) ripping though the top-order.

The bowlers got the ball to move disconcertingly and the odd-ball rising alarmingly.

Delhi captain Rajat Bhatia’s medium pace also came in handy and he picked up three wickets for 30 runs in 10 overs.

Ashish Yadav led Railways’ recovery with his 59 off 79 balls.

Delhi play Mumbai in the semi-finals Saturday.

Brief scores: Raliways 175 (Ashish Yadav 59, Dhiran Salvi 26; Parvinder Awana 2/20, Pawan Suyal 2/36, Rajat Bhatia 3/30), Delhi 178/3 (Shikhar Dhawan 69, Gautam Gambhir 34 not out; Sanjay Bangar 1/31, Shivakant Shukla 1/22).