New Delhi, Dec 24:
Delhi bowlers led by young pacer Navdeep Saini complemented Unmukt Chand’s well-made century as the hosts convincingly beat Rajasthan by an innings and seven runs to gain a bonus point in their group league encounter of the Ranji Trophy Cricket Tournament, here today.
In their bid to erase the 239-run deficit in their second innings of the four-day encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Rajasthan opener Siddharth Saraf’s brave 88 raised visions of a point for the visitors but finally ran out of steam being all out for 232 all out with all but 10 overs left in deteriorating light.
Earlier Delhi rode on Man-of-the-match Unmukt’s 146 to declare their innings on 380 for six after their bowlers had skittled out Rajasthan for 141 in the first innings.
In a match severely interrupted by the city fog, the visitors started today’s proceedings on 78 for two but Karnal born medium-pacer Saini, who bagged four wickets, struck early to be on a hat-trick and make things look easy for Delhi.
Overnight batsman and captain Ashok Menaria (19) was trapped lbw and first-innings top-scorer Rajesh Bishnoi was caught behind but new-man Arjit Gupta (37) was lucky to escape after a thick edge fell just short of Virender Sehwag at first slip with Saini missing out on a hat-trick.
But the fifth-wicket 79-run partnership between Saraf and Gupta frustrated the Delhi bowlers no end as Rajasthan took lunch at 101 for four.
Saraf completed his fourth first-class fifty after lunch and carried on the good work.
Gambhir then introduced spin and once again the visitors were pushed on the backfoot as off-spinner Shivam Sharma (3-40) and left-arm orthodox Varun Sood (2-39) worked well in tandem.
Shivam bowled Gupta with a beautiful off-spinner and Sood quickly sent back wicketkeeper-batsman Dishant Yagnik (5) and Aristh Singhvi (5). Saini then got Deepak Chahar (6) caught behind as Rajasthan took tea at 194 for eight. (PTI)
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