In what could have been an easy win for Delhi, the capital state bowlers were left toying all throughout the day with Delhi batsmen only getting an opportunity to chase down 79 runs in 14 overs, which was not fulfilled, courtesy Assam team’s tactics.
Delhi batsmen came out to bat at nearly 4:30 PM, and as per the schedule, the game could have gone till 6 PM to complete the necessary overs. Though its still summer season in Delhi but the sun sets early nowadays and its difficult to play post that time.
The Assam bowlers had their plans in mind, and they also knew that a bit of wastage of time would prevent Delhi from gaining all the six points and they would even get the point. They bowled only seven hours in the one-hour of play that was organised later in the evening before umpires call brought an end to the game due to bad light.
Delhi players were left disappointed as it was a chance for them to snare the six points which were in the bag but in the end, a brave show from Assam batsmen and smart tactics from Assam bowlers proved to be handy for them.
Surprisingly, it was Milind Kumar who scalped two late wickets in the evening and but till then, Delhi had lost the crucial time plus overs.
Youngsters Nitish Rana and Unmukt Chand were not at all happy with Assam bowlers tactics, which was evident on the field but they could not do anything because the official’s confirmation brought an end to the game soon after.
KP Bhaskar, Delhi’s Head Coach, was also not amused by Assam bowlers plan of wasting time,
“We should have won the game and bagged six points. Assam used time-delaying tactics. But fair enough; they did all that they could to save the game. We should have got 14 overs and had planned the chase accordingly,” he added. The lights were fading for sure but wasn’t dangerous for batting. It couldn’t have been extended till 6 PM, but it could have gone on for at least two-three more overs. But the umpires thought otherwise,” Bhaskar told Cricbuzz
These sorts of techniques are quite common in cricket nowadays, but it is not only Assam bowlers who are to be blamed as Delhi bowlers too failed to get crucial wickets in the significant part of the day and allowed the batsman to stay as much on the crease they could.
This game has come as a learning experience for Delhi, which now has a habit of losing crucial points on the final day’s of the game as it was not the first time in Delhi’s history that such a thing has happened and Delhi lost crucial points.