Shorey-Rana pair puts Delhi in command

MOHALI: A 122-run partnership between Delhi's captain Dhruv Shorey (96) and vice-captain Nitish Rana (64 not out) put the visitors in a commanding position against Punjab on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Group A tie at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium here on Saturday.
Delhi were 195 for 4 at stumps on Day 2, trailing by 118 runs in response to Punjab's 313.
Dhruv came to the crease after Delhi lost their opener Anuj Rawat (0) on the second ball of their innings. Rawat was caught by wicket-keeper Anmol Malhotra off Baltej Singh's bowling. Shorey and Kunal Chandela (31) then steadied the innings and kept the scoreboard ticking. The 64-run stand ended as Anmol took a single-handed stunner off Sanvir's bowling.
Delhi were 64/2 in 23.3 overs when Shorey was joined by his deputy Nitish. The pair found gaps at will and timed the ball well to keep the pressure on the Punjab bowlers. Shorey reached his half-century century with a four against leg-spinner Mayank Markande.
The way Shorey shaped his innings was quite remarkable. The only bad shot he played cost him the wicket. Looking to complete his fifth first-class century memorably, Shorey was a bit early into a half-tracker from off-spinner Akul Pandove and ended up lifting the shot to Mayank, who was patrolling the point boundary. Shorey was on his knees and stayed there for a while before heading back, four shy of the milestone. His innings included 13 hits to the fence. "I don't want to talk about the way I got out," Shorey said after the end of day's play.