The Hindu : Sport : Delhi eyes first-innings lead

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Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
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Delhi eyes first-innings lead

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

IN FINE FORM: Gautam Gambhir made good use of an early reprieve to make a big score.

Chennai: Just three runs short of Tamil Nadu’s 268 with four wickets remaining, Delhi is poised for the lead.

While a semifinal spot beckons, Delhi will have to be careful batting last in the Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy Super League match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. At stumps on Wednesday, Delhi was 265 for six.

Gautam Gambhir sizzled with a 108-ball 84 while host left-arm spinner C. Suresh claimed four wickets.

Delhi stumbled after a solid opening partnership. Gambhir and Aakash Chopra put on 141 in 35.2 overs before the left-arm spin pair of Suresh and R. Ramkumar scripted Tamil Nadu’s come-back.

Suresh lured Chopra (55, 112b, 10x4) in the air — Vasudeva Dass took a sharp catch at cover.

Had M. Vijay snaffled up Gambhir (on 18) at slip off Ramkumar, the visitor could have been subjected to considerable pressure.

Gambhir was eventually held at short-leg by Abhinav Mukund off Suresh

Delhi was also well served by an efficient 59 (112b, 8x4) by No. 3 Shikhar Dhawan. He was well caught by skipper S. Badrinath at short mid-wicket, Suresh being the bowler. Earlier, Yomahesh sent down a lively spell with the new ball. The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: A. Mukund c Chopra b Nanda 51, M. Vijay lbw b Bhatia 77; S. Badrinath lbw b Nanda 9, Vasudeva Dass b Nanda 0, R. Srinivasan c Bist b Bhatia 23, S. Suresh Kumar c Bist b Sangwan 20, K.H. Gopinath c Nanda b Narendra Singh 13, R. Ramkumar c Bist b Sangwan 32, V. Yomahesh c Bist b Awana 8, C. Suresh lbw b Bhatia 14, P. Amarnath (not out) 7, Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-5) 14; Total (in 96.2 overs) 268.

Fall of wickets: 1-127, 2-143, 3-143, 4-157, 5-173, 6-201, 7-219, 8-238, 9-250.

Delhi bowling: Sangwan 22-8-48-2, Awana 16-2-58-1, N. Singh 21-4-72-1, Bhatia 14.2-5-16-3, Nanda 22-5-65-3, Manhas 1-1-0-0

Delhi — Ist innings: A. Chopra c Das b C. Suresh 55, G. Gambhir c Mukund b C. Suresh 84, S. Dhawan c Badrinath b C. Suresh 59, M. Manhas c Gopinath b Ramkumar 12, V. Kohli c Mukund b Ramkumar 19, R. Bhatia c Vijay b Suresh 10, P. Bist (batting) 14, P. Sangwan (batting) 2, Extras (lb-6, nb-3, w-1) 10; Total (for six wickets in 81 overs) 265.

Fall of wickets: 1-141, 2-146, 3-169, 4-224, 5-237, 6-252.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Yomahesh 14-4-51-0; Amarnath 11-1-34-0; Ramkumar 28-3-89-2; S. Suresh Kumar 4-0-20-0; C. Suresh 24-4-65-4.

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