New Delhi, Dec 23:
Unmukt Chand hit a dominant 146 to put Delhi in the drivers seat against a struggling Rajasthan on Day 3 of the Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match, here today.
Responding to Rajasthan’s first-innings score of 141, the Gautam Gambhir-led side declared their innings on 380 for six in a bid to bundle out the opposition once again.
After two fog-hit days, bright sunshine welcomed the Delhi batsmen at the Feroz Shah Kotla as Unmukt took centerstage to register his fifth first-class century, stitching a 93-run fourth-wicket partnership with Mithun Manhas (53).
Unmukt’s 235-ball stay was laced with 19 fours and a six while Manhas also maintained a good strike-rate after hitting nine boundaries.
Unmukt’s departure did not make things easy for the Ashok Menaria-led Rajasthan as Manhas stuck around with Rajat Bhatia (24) to not only put runs on board but also maintain a decent run-rate.
Deepak Chahar cleaned up Manhas and Shailender Gehlot bowled Bhatia only to see another partnership prosper and frustrate the Rajasthan bowlers.
Sumit Narwal (59) and wicketkeeper-batsman Puneet Bisht (16) also managed an unbeaten 75-run seventh-wicket stand to help Delhi take command.
The Gautam Gambhir-led side’s good batting show comes after a great start provided by Virender Sehwag (64) on the second day when the dashing batsman managed a 128-run third-wicket partnership with Unmukt.
Sharing the new ball with Chahar, Aniket Choudhary picked up three wickets while Gehlot bagged two.
Getting behind a 239-run trail to avoid an innings defeat, Rajasthan were 78 for two at stumps with Siddharth Saraf (42 not out) and Menaria (12 not out) battling on.
Pace spearhead Sumit Narwal’s new-ball partner Navdeep Saini got opener Vineet Saxena (1) caught behind early but Saraf, who batted with a positive intent by hitting 6 fours and a six so far, and Robin Bist (17) stuck around for a while.
Narwal then broke a 43-run second-wicket partnership by getting Bist caught behind and dim Rajasthan’s hopes of saving the match.
Brief Scores:
Rajasthan 141 and 78/2 in 31 overs (Siddharth Saraf 42 not out; Sumit Narwal 1-11)
Delhi 380/6 declared (Unmukt Chand 146, Virender Sehwag 64; Aniket Choudhary 3-81). (PTI)
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