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Nischal Gaur's splendid allround show scripted Himachal Pradesh's comprehensive seven-wicket win over Delhi in the inaugural North Zone Twenty20 cricket match at the Ferozshah Kotla ground in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Nischal took five wickets in four overs removing Delhi's middle order and then the opener carved a short but impressive innings of 26 runs.
Electing to field, Delhi could not capitalise on the good start it made through Shikhar Dhawan (38) and Virat Kohli (35) and were bundled out for 136 in 19.5 overs.
After opener Gautam Gambhir's (6) cheap dismissal, Dhawan and Kohli stabilised the innings and Delhi looked heading towards a big score but Gaur foiled their chances.
The off-spinner began weaving the magic with the wicket of Kohli and never looked back. Though he proved costly in his four overs giving away 28 runs, he destroyed Delhi's hopes of a big score by dismissing five Delhi batsmen.
Skipper Virender Sehwag struggled again to wield the magic of his willow and was dismissed by Sarandeep Singh for just four runs.
Chasing 137 to win, Gaur supported skipper Sandeep Sharma (45) in laying the foundation for an easy victory and shared a 74-run opening wicket partnership.
Himachal Pradesh never looked troubled by Delhi bowlers and built upon the strong opening partnership. Paras Dogra remained unbeaten after playing a blazing knock of 35.
Sehwag raised hope of a close finish when he had M Bisla stumped in the penultimate over with Himachal Pradesh needing nine runs from 10 balls. But Dogra hit a towering six in the same over that landed on the under-construction second floor of the stadium, sealing Delhi's fate.