Gambhir sparkles as Delhi seal semi-finals slot
Gautam Gambhir's 129-ball 95 powered Delhi to a seven-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh in Vijaywada as they reached the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy 2017-18. The seven-time Ranji champions chased down the target of 217 in just 51.4 overs.
Delhi, who began the day at eight for no loss, lost Vikas Tokas (6) early. Gambhir and Kunal Chandela (57) steadied the innings with a stand of 98 for the second wicket. Chandela was eventually dismissed by Mihir Hirwani, the legspinner. Dhruv Shorey (46) then joined forces with Gambhir to string together another crucial stand of 95 as Delhi inched closer to win. Gambhir, however, missed out on compiling his 42nd first class hundred as he was run-out. Nitish Rana and Shorey guided Delhi home, helping them reach their first semi-final since the 2009-10 season.
Delhi's comfortable win was set up by Manan Sharma, the all-rounder, as his four-fer in the first innings helped the side to bowl out MP for 338. Chandela, Himmat Singh and Shorey followed it by essaying fifties to ensure Delhi gained a lead of 67. Harpreet Singh then compiled his second fifty of the match to give MP an outside chance of emerging victorious but it didn't prove to be enough.
Delhi now will meet Bengal or Gujarat in the first semifinal of this year's Ranji Trophy.
Brief scores: Delhi 405 (Kunal Chandela 81, Dhruv Shorey 78, Himmat Singh 71; Mihir Hirwani 5-89) & 217-3 (Gautam Gambhir 95, Kunal Chandela 57, Dhruv Shorey 46*; Ishwar Pandey 1-18) beat Madhya Pradesh 338 (Harpeet Singh 107; Manan Sharma 4-46) and 283 (Harpreet Singh 78, Puneet Datey 60; Vikas Mishra 4-59, Vikas Tokas 3-64) by 7 wickets
Delhi, who began the day at eight for no loss, lost Vikas Tokas (6) early. Gambhir and Kunal Chandela (57) steadied the innings with a stand of 98 for the second wicket. Chandela was eventually dismissed by Mihir Hirwani, the legspinner. Dhruv Shorey (46) then joined forces with Gambhir to string together another crucial stand of 95 as Delhi inched closer to win. Gambhir, however, missed out on compiling his 42nd first class hundred as he was run-out. Nitish Rana and Shorey guided Delhi home, helping them reach their first semi-final since the 2009-10 season.
Delhi's comfortable win was set up by Manan Sharma, the all-rounder, as his four-fer in the first innings helped the side to bowl out MP for 338. Chandela, Himmat Singh and Shorey followed it by essaying fifties to ensure Delhi gained a lead of 67. Harpreet Singh then compiled his second fifty of the match to give MP an outside chance of emerging victorious but it didn't prove to be enough.
Delhi now will meet Bengal or Gujarat in the first semifinal of this year's Ranji Trophy.
Brief scores: Delhi 405 (Kunal Chandela 81, Dhruv Shorey 78, Himmat Singh 71; Mihir Hirwani 5-89) & 217-3 (Gautam Gambhir 95, Kunal Chandela 57, Dhruv Shorey 46*; Ishwar Pandey 1-18) beat Madhya Pradesh 338 (Harpeet Singh 107; Manan Sharma 4-46) and 283 (Harpreet Singh 78, Puneet Datey 60; Vikas Mishra 4-59, Vikas Tokas 3-64) by 7 wickets
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