Ranji Trophy: Ahlawat stands tall for Services against his former team

New Delhi: Mohit Ahlawat’s journey in domestic cricket started with Delhi under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy back in the 2015-16 season. After three Ranji Trophy matches without success, Ahlawat was consigned to the wilderness. An entry into the Indian Navy resulted in Services offering a cricketing lifeline three seasons later.

Life seemed to come full circle for the 30-year-old on Wednesday when he scored his maiden First Class century for Services on day three of the Elite Group-C joust against his former team at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam. Ahlawat’s 142 took just 150 balls and contained seven maximums as Services reached 280 for five in its second innings. It ended the day with a lead of 202 runs.

It was a stirring fightback by the visitors once Delhi, which resumed on 299 for six, was bundled out for 344 for a first-innings lead of 78 runs. For Ayush Badoni’s side, Sumit Mathur was agonisingly dismissed on 99 when he cut Jayant Goyat to backward point, adding just 19 runs to his overnight score.