 Butt returns to form as Pakistan warm-up in style
2nd Nov 2007 19:01 IST
Agencies
Earlier, Rajat Bhatia and Shikhar Dhawan hit half centuries to help Delhi overcome a jittery start after being put in to bat by visiting captain Shoaib Malik.
Delhi slumped to 36/4 inside 13 overs before a 91-run stand between Dhawan and Bhatia arrested the slide.
Bhatia's 75 was a product of his 106-ball stay in the middle and included seven boundaries besides a six off Alam.
Dhawan's 52 came off 81 balls and had three fours in it. The left-hander also pulled Shoaib Akhtar over square leg for his only six.
Delhi, minus regular captain Virender Sehwag, ran into trouble soon as stand-in skipper Gautam Gambhir (4) departed as early as in the second over when Umar Gul trapped him plumb in front.
Aakash Chopra (16) and Dhawan struggled to nudge the score along and then Younis Khan dealt a double blow.
The Pakistan vice-captain first trapped Chopra and then castled Mithun Manhas for a first-ball duck even though he could not complete his hat-trick.
Dhawan did not last long after completing his half century and two runs later, a Butt direct throw cut short his stay, leaving the hosts at 137/5 in the 35th over.
Once Dhawan departed, Bhatia started playing his shots even though wickets kept tumbling at the other end.
Mayank Tehlan (7) offered a return catch to Alam while Shahid Afridi scalped Puneet Bisht (2) in his first over.
Bhatia perished when a Sohail Tanvir direct throw caught him short of ground. |
