Dhoni ton inspires Jharkhand win against Chhattisgarh

Kolkata, February 26 

Skipper MS Dhoni notched up his maiden List A hundred for Jharkhand to guide his side to a comprehensive 78-run victory over Chhattisgarh in their Group D Vijay Hazare Trophy match.

Dhoni survived some anxious moments en route a 107-ball 129 but the effort was just enough to steer the team home. Put in to bat, Jharkhand were 43/5 in 14.4 overs but Dhoni along with Shahbaz Nadeem (53 off 90 balls; 4x4, 1x6) propped the total to 243/9 with a 151-run seventh-wicket partnership off 166 balls.

Dhoni’s career-best ton in domestic One-dayers was studded with six sixes and 10 boundaries but it was not a typical Dhoni knock as he survived a few close calls before reaching his first century for Jharkhand.

This was Dhoni’s 17th List A century, which included 10 in ODIs, and a first in domestic One-dayers since February 8, 2005 when he had scored an unbeaten 102 for India Seniors against India B in the Challengers Trophy. In reply, Chhattisgarh innings folded up for 165 in 38.4 overs as Varun Aaron and Nadeem claimed three wickets each.

Assam beat Punjab

Minnows Assam beat Punjab by three wickets in their Group A League encounter. In a Group B fixture, HP beat Delhi by 185 runs in Bhubaneshwar. Prashant Chopra top-scored for HP with 159 runs, including 24 fours and three sixes.  — PTI