Dhull, Doseja fifties put Delhi in firm control against Himachal

A counter-attacking partnership between Yash Dhull and Ayush Doseja put Delhi firmly in command against Himachal Pradesh on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Group D encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Dhull’s brisk 70 off just 59 balls and Doseja’s unbeaten 62 powered Delhi to 196 for 4 at stumps, extending their overall lead to a commanding 329 runs.

Bad light forced an early close to play, but not before the duo’s 125-run stand in 19.3 overs turned the day decisively in Delhi’s favour. Earlier, the hosts secured a first-innings lead of 133 after bowling out Himachal Pradesh for 297, with Navdeep Saini (3/52) and Money Grewal (2/47) leading the attack.

Delhi are now eyeing an outright win and are likely to declare overnight to allow their bowlers maximum time to force a result on the final day.

Coming in with the intention to accelerate, Delhi found themselves in early trouble at 53 for 3. However, Dhull, the former India U19 World Cup-winning captain, counter-punched in style. Mixing aggression with elegance, he played crisp shots square of the wicket and unleashed boundaries at will. His innings featured eight fours and two towering sixes, showcasing his return to form after a quiet start to the season.

At the other end, southpaw Doseja continued his rich vein of form. Displaying patience and smart shot selection, he deftly manoeuvred the spinners and kept the scoreboard ticking. Once the partnership settled, both batters began dominating the attack, forcing Himachal skipper Ankush Bains to spread the field in an attempt to stem the flow of runs.

Dhull’s most eye-catching stroke came against off-spinner Mukul Negi, a bent-knee slog sweep that soared into the extra cover stands, drawing applause from teammates and spectators alike.

When Dhull finally fell after a sparkling 70, Doseja carried on confidently, partnering wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat as the light began to fade. Umpires eventually called off play with Delhi in full control.

With one day left and a healthy 329-run advantage, Delhi will look to press for a full six points on Tuesday. Himachal, on the other hand, faced an uphill battle to save the match.

Brief scores: Delhi 430 and 196/4 (Yash Dhull 70, Ayush Doseja 62 batting); Himachal Pradesh 297 (Sidhant Purohit 70, Navdeep Saini 3/52).