Delhi in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 quarters after fifth successive win

Delhi registered fifth successive victory to finish on top of Group E and enter the quarter-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20.

Delhi defeated Tripura by 86 runs in their last match on Wednesday and surprised Tamil Nadu by a margin of 124 runs in the game before to qualify by topping the pool with 22 points from six games, eight ahead of Uttar Pradesh who ended with 14 points.

Delhi’s first match against Uttar Pradesh was abandoned without a ball bowled.

However, the team won five matches on the trot on the back of outstanding performance from leg-spinner Suyash Sharma, who burst into limelight through the Indian Premier League in the summer of this year. Suyash is second in the list of wicket-takers with 15 scalps in five games at an average of 4.46 and an economy rate of 3.35. There were batting performances from skipper Yash Dhull and left-handed opener Priyansh Arya. While Dhull has scored 159 runs in five matches at an average of 53, Arya has aggregated 188 at an average of 37.6.

“The team is doing well and I am quite happy with how we performed in the league phase, topping the pool. We took one game at a time and that is what we will continue to do from quarter-final onwards,” said skipper Dhull to Patriot.

“All is well with my batting too as I have got some runs. I think as a whole, the team members have done well,” added Dhull, who hit 36 vs Tamil Nadu and 56 against Tripura in the last two games.

Suyash, who took 10 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders this season, was elated with his performance in what is his debut season for Delhi. He had not played any cricket for the state but it was the IPL platform that catapulted him into the state team.

“I played the IPL this year, so naturally I was high on confidence. I did what I usually do in T20 cricket. Bowl dot balls which lead to pressure on the batsman. This is what happened here too. Of course, the five-wicket haul in the first game [against Madhya Pradesh] boosted my confidence,” added Suyash, who picked 3/11 against Tripura and 4/5 against Tamil Nadu, who were bowled out for 67 by Delhi to lose by 124 runs.

The pitches have been helpful as they have supported spin bowlers and Suyash made full use of it.

Delhi, coached by former India batsman Devang Gandhi this season, now leave for Chandigarh/Mohali over the weekend where they will play their quarterfinal ties.

Delhi’s results:

Vs Uttar Pradesh: Abandoned

Vs Madhya Pradesh: Won by seven wickets

Vs Nagaland: Won by eight wickets

Vs Karnataka: Won by eight wickets

Vs Tamil Nadu: Won by 124 runs

Vs Tripura: Won by 86 runs