Services, Delhi win in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

NEW DELHI: Paceman Amrinder Singh scalped five wickets for just 21 runs before Ritesh Negi cracked a 31-ball 40 to help Services beat Punjab by two wickets in a Twenty20 match of the North Zone Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Sunday.
In other matches, Delhi overcame Haryana by three wickets, while Himachal Pradesh got the better of Jammu and Kashmir by 56 runs.
Services skittled out Punjab for 133 in 20 overs thanks to some devastating bowling by Amrinder, who got fine support from Amit Kumar (3-11) and Yashpal Singh (2-14).
Negi then struck three fours and a six during a breezy innings before Narendra Singh (24 n.o. off 18) guided Services home with a ball to spare.
For Punjab, Bipul Sharma claimed four wickets for 28 runs, but his effort was wasted as the opponent reached 134 for eight at the Palam B ground.
In the other match, Sunny Singh's 48-ball 74 went in vain as hosts Delhi came out with an all-round performance to beat Haryana at the Palam A ground.
Opting to bat, the visitors rode on a 61-run second wicket partnership between Sunny, who adorned his innings with seven fours and two sixes, and opener Mukul Dagar (35 off 31) to post 146 for six in 20 overs.
Chasing 147 for victory, opener Chetan Sharma and Rajat Bhatia started on a solid note as Delhi achieved the target by losing seven wickets in exactly 20 overs.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra and Hemang Badani bagged two wickets apiece by giving away 27 and 34 runs respectively, but their efforts went in vain.
In the third match of the day, it was an 111-run opening partnership between Sangram Singh and Manvinder Bisla - each of them contributed 57 - which laid the foundation of Himachal's 56-run win over Jammu & Kashmir.
Despite a solid opening, Himachal after opting to bat, could manage only 147 for four in 20 overs. Medium pacer Samiullah Beigh took three wickets for 23 runs.
Jammu-Kashmir's inexperienced batting order, however, surrendered to the Himachal attack as they were bundled out for a paltry 91 for seven in 20 overs. Kuldeep Diwan, Ashok Thakur and Mukesh Sharma claimed two wickets apiece.
Ian Dev Singh, who scored a fighting 37 off 39 balls, was the only bright point in Jammu-Kashmir batting.