Paliwal, Dhull hit centuries in draw

New Delhi At 3.15 p.m. on Thursday, Delhi and Services were ready to shake hands for a draw in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C battle at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam. Yash Dhull, unbeaten on 72 then, was nearing his first hundred of the season while Services needed six more wickets for an improbable outright win. With the umpires asking the teams to carry on, the next 40-odd minutes were a formality.

Once Dhull got to the three-figure mark by steering part-time off-spinner Nitin Tanwar for four, the officials gave the green light for the game to be called off. Set a target of 320 from 54 overs, Delhi finished on 168 for four in 37 overs. The stalemate handed Ayush Badoni & Co. three points for securing the first-innings lead.

Services added a point. For Dhull, who had tallied 103 runs in his first five innings this season, an uninterrupted 104 off as many deliveries was a source of relief. If the 23-year-old’s innings halted a lean run, Rajat Paliwal’s century earlier in the day for Services extended a hot streak.