Yash Dhull’s scintillating century leads Central Delhi Kings to 15-run win against North Delhi Strikers

Yash Dhull in action.

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: Yash Dhull smashed a scintillating century to guide Central Delhi Kings to 15-run victory against North Delhi Strikers in a rain-curtailed Delhi Premier League (DPL) Season 2 match, which was reduced to 16 overs per side at the Arjun Jaitley Stadium here.

After Yash Dhull’s century helped the Kings to set a mammoth 198-run target, the Strikers got of to a brilliant start as opening batters Sarthak Ranjan (52 off 26) and Arnav Bugga (43 off 13) stitched a 85-run partnership inside five overs before Bugga departed after smashing 5 fours and 3 sixes.

However, as the innings progressed, Central Delhi Kings fought back, making timely breakthroughs and slowing down the momentum. Key wickets at crucial junctures, including the dismissals of Sarthak Ranjan, Yajas Sharma, Yash Dabas, and Vaibhav Kandpal halted the charge. Despite their aggressive approach and brief partnerships, the Strikers fell short as the disciplined bowling attack of Central Delhi Kings held their nerve in the second half of the chase to restrict the Strikers to 182/9 in 16 overs.

Yash Dhull after Completing century.

The Kings’ bowlers, particularly Jonty Sidhu, Simarjeet Singh and Tejas Baroka, played a pivotal role in containing the opposition at critical stages.

Earlier in the match, Central Delhi Kings took command against North Delhi Strikers by posting a formidable total of 197 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. The standout performance of the innings was delivered by Yash Dhull, the former India U19 World Cup-winning captain, who compiled a sensational century, scoring 101 runs off just 56 balls. Dhull’s masterful knock was studded with eight fours and seven sixes, showcasing a perfect balance of measured aggression and controlled stroke play. His innings provided the backbone for the Kings’ imposing total and set the tone for the team’s competitive edge.

Sarthak Ranjan and Arnav Bugga.

The contribution from Yugal Saini, who smashed 63 of just 28 balls, further bolstered the innings, as he supported Dhull’s dominating display by maintaining a brisk scoring rate throughout the innings, allowing the Kings to reach a challenging target of 198 runs for the opposition to chase.

For North Delhi Strikers, Harshit Rana was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged three wickets and gave away just 35 runs in his quota of four overs. Also, Arjun Rapria took a hattrick but proved to be costly as he conceded 30 runs in two overs.

Brief Scores:

Central Delhi Kings: 197/7 (16 overs):  Yash Dhull 101 (56), Yugal Saini 63 (28), Arjun Rapria: 3/30.

North Delhi Strikers: 182/9 (16 overs) : Sarthak Ranjan 52 (26), Arnav Bugga 43 (13), Tejas Baroka 2/36.