Cricket

Delhi's Ranji Trophy campaign has hit a roadblock after a disappointing draw against Tamil Nadu in the second round. Despite Yash Dhull's unbeaten century in the first innings and Sanat Sangwan's valiant 83 in the second, Delhi's batters struggled to make a mark.The home side will need to raise their game significantly when they face Assam at the Arun Jaitley Stadium from Saturday. Assam, too, has managed only one point from its first two rounds against Jharkhand and Chandigarh, making this a crucial opportunity for Delhi to secure full points and improve its standing in Group D.Delhi currently has four points, having taken the first-innings lead in the draw against Chhattisgarh before narrowly avoiding defeat against Tamil Nadu. Navdeep Saini is unavailable for this fixture due to his inclusion in the India-A squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.In Saini's absence, Delhi will welcome the return of pacer Harshit Rana, who was traveling as a reserve with the Indian team in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand before being released for this Ranji game. Rana has yet to play for Delhi this season.For Assam, Riyan Parag remains unavailable. The hard-hitting middle-order batter is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, with his next assignment likely to be India's four-match T20I series against South Africa starting on November 8."We are not looking at it as a setback," said Assam captain Denish Das of Parag's absence. "It is a chance for someone else to grab his opportunity. Yes, there will obviously be a gap because he is Assam's best player, but there is an opportunity for a different player."

Sanat Sangwan's defiant 83 and Navdeep Saini's strategic time-wasting tactics helped Delhi escape with a draw in their second-round Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.Delhi, asked to follow on after conceding a 408-run first-innings lead, faced a daunting task of seeing out 85 overs to avoid an innings defeat. The visitors, led by N. Jagadeesan, were determined to force a result, but Delhi's resilience proved too strong.Sangwan played a pivotal role in Delhi's resistance, consuming 231 deliveries and frustrating the Tamil Nadu bowlers. His innings, which included 10 fours and a six, kept the visitors at bay for over six hours.As the shadows lengthened, Delhi's hopes of a draw rested on the shoulders of Saini and Himanshu Chauhan. With two wickets in hand and just two overs remaining, Tamil Nadu sensed an opportunity. However, Saini's clever time-wasting tactics, including a comical display of injury after being hit on the head, allowed Delhi to survive the final onslaught.Tamil Nadu's bowlers, led by Washington Sundar and S. Ajith Ram, had earlier put in a dominant performance, restricting Delhi to 266 in their first innings. Gurjapneet Singh and Sonu Yadav also chipped in with two wickets each.In their second innings, Delhi lost early wickets but Sangwan's marathon knock steadied the ship. Himmat Singh (36) and Jonty Sidhu (23) provided valuable support, but it was Saini's unbeaten 15 that ultimately sealed the draw.Tamil Nadu, despite their first-innings advantage, were left to rue their missed opportunities. Their decision to bat for a mammoth total in the first innings may have backfired, as it gave Delhi ample time to recover in the second innings.