Ranji Trophy | Bhambri leads the way in which as Chandigarh nudges forward of Delhi

Received you! Badoni removes Chandigarh’s Gurinder.
| Picture Credit score: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Driving on opener Shivam Bhambri’s eye-catching knock of 80, Chandigarh managed to nudge forward of Delhi on day two of a Group D Ranji Trophy contest right here on Thursday.

Quite a few useful contributions from the center and decrease order, too, made a distinction because the host secured a 48-run first-innings lead on a pitch the place the spinners have been extracting considerable help.

Gritty knock: Bhambri’s 111-ball 80 proved essential for Chandigarh.
| Picture Credit score:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

By reaching 32 for no loss at stumps, Delhi has reduce down the deficit to 16 runs, however there may be loads of work for its batters to do within the second essay whether it is to attempt to flip issues round with two days remaining.

With Delhi captain Himmat Singh counting on spin given the circumstances on supply, pacers Himanshu Chauhan and Siddhant Sharma bowled solely 19 of the 92 overs that they have been on the sphere.

Ayush Badoni, who’s within the workforce extra for his batting, was essentially the most profitable of the 4 tweakers Delhi had at its disposal, claiming 4 for 57 in 14 overs of off-spin. Left-arm spinner Sumit Mathur bowled properly too, returning figures of 28-5-72-3.

It was Mathur who made the primary breakthrough of day two. Launched within the eleventh over of the day, the 26-year-old eliminated Manan Vohra instantly. The Chandigarh skipper had added 100 runs for the second wicket alongside Bhambri earlier than being caught by Yash Dhull at cowl off a ball that appeared to carry up on the floor.

Three extra wickets within the opening session, together with that of Bhambri who miscued a slog sweep to lengthy on, decreased Chandigarh to 182 for 5 at lunch, 94 runs adrift of the customer’s whole with 5 wickets in hand.

As an alternative of urgent the panic button, wicketkeeper Mayank Sidhu and Aayush Sikka have been considered of their shot choice and stitched collectively a 62-run partnership. It went a great distance in the direction of deflating Delhi’s hopes of grabbing first-innings honours.

Badoni, however, caught to his job and ended with a four-wicket haul for his second straight sport.

The scores:

Delhi — 1st innings: 276.

Chandigarh — 1st innings: Arslan Khan b Siddhant 0, Shivam Bhambri c Kshitiz b Shokeen 80, Manan Vohra c Dhull b Mathur 44, Ankit Kaushik c Himmat b Mathur 2, Rajangad Bawa b Badoni 33, Aayush Sikka lbw b Badoni 24, Mayank Sidhu c (sub) b Badoni 44, Gurinder Singh b Badoni 32, Jagjit Singh Sandhu c Vashisth b Siddhant 18, Nishunk Birla (not out) 21, Vishu Kashyap b Mathur 9; Extras (b-12, lb-3, w-2): 17; Complete (in 92 overs): 324.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-100, 3-104, 4-160, 5-164, 6-226, 7-273, 8-278, 9-302.

Delhi bowling: Siddhant 12-3-37-2, Chauhan 7-0-32-0, Mathur 28-5-72-3, Shokeen 18-1-60-1, Vashisth 13-1-51-0, Badoni 14-2-57-4.

Delhi — 2nd innings: Sanat Sangwan (batting) 19, Anuj Rawat (batting) 13; Complete (for no loss in 10 overs): 32.

Chandigarh bowling: Vishu 4-1-13-0, Birla 5-1-13-0, Gurinder 1-0-6-0.