Ranji Trophy: Delhi take opening day honours

KRISHNAGIRI: Not often in the recent past has one seen spectators turning up to watch a Ranji Trophy game. But the Group B encounter between Delhi and Team Rajasthan that began at the Krishnagiri Stadium here on Monday was a tad different.
Braving the early morning chill, quite a handful of spectators turned up at the picturesque stadium in anticipation of seeing two batsmen in action, Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan.
For the two Delhi openers, this Ranji Trophy game assumed great significance as they have been asked to showcase their form and fitness in domestic cricket by the selectors before nurturing hopes of a recall to the Indian playing XI.
However, the fans were bitterly disappointed as Delhi skipper Gambhir opted to field first after winning the toss. Instead, they got to see some fine seam bowling from the Delhi seamers and a gritty ton from Team Rajasthan opener Amitkumar Gautam (106). The Delhi bowlers vindicated their skipper's decision by bundling out the opposition for 238 on Day 1.
And the fans who were patient enough to watch the whole day's proceedings were finally granted their wish late in the day as Gambhir and Dhawan strode out to bat. The two were unseparated at close as Delhi ended a day of total domination at 37 without loss with Dhawan and Gambhir unbeaten on 29 and six respectively.
Earlier, the wicket at Krishnagiri offered great assistance for the Delhi opening bowlers Sumit Narwal and Vikas Tokas and they struck early. Team Rajasthan opener Manendra Singh (5) was the first to go when he was trapped in front by Narwal. Puneet Yadav soon followed without opening his account as he was caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant off Narwal and Rajasthan were tottering at 20 for two.
The loss of two early wickets didn't deter Gautam who looked at ease against both seam and spin. Mahipal Lomror replaced Yadav in the middle and along with Gautam he added 39 runs for the third wicket before Lomror got bowled by Navdeep Saini for 15.
Rajesh Bishnoi (senior) too departed quickly after making just four. Seventeen-year-old Salman Khan, who had made his Ranji debut along with Gautam against Odisha earlier in the season, tried to revive Team Rajasthan innings with a 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Khan was caught by Manan Sharma of Tokas for 31.
Playing only his third match, Gautam was discipline personified. He was in no hurry and waited for the bad balls to find his runs. Delhi pacers tested him out with bouncers but Gautam stood firm and was undeterred by the loss of wickets at the other end.
He fetched his maiden hundred by hitting spinner Manan over long-on for a huge six. Tokas finally removed Gautam when the right-hander edged an out-swinger into the hands of Rishabh Pant. He hit fifteen fours and two sixes in his innings which lasted 182 balls.
Deepak Chahar played a cameo and made a 66-ball 47 before he was caught brilliantly by Manan at mid-wicket off Saini. For Delhi, Saini (3/28) and Tokas (3/48) claimed three each while Manan (2/46) and Narwal (2/41) gave wonderful support.
"Delhi pacers were in good rhythm and it was not easy to bat. I was determined not to attempt any risky shots. This is my natural style and I hope it's a decent total on this wicket,” Gautam said of his century knock.
Scoreboard:
Team Rajasthan(1st innings): AV Gautam c R Pant b V Tokas 106, MN Singh LBW S Narwal 5, PR Yadav b V Tokas 0, M Lomror b N Saini 15, RK Bishnoi (Sr) 4, S Khan c M Sharma b V Tokas 31, CD Bist c S Dhawan b N Saini 9, D Chahar c M Sharma b N Saini 47, TM Ul Haq 5, AV Choudhary not out 5, P Singh b M Sharma 0, Extras (NB-6, LB-5) 11. Total (All out; 71.3 overs) 238.FoW: 1/15, 2/20, 3/59, 4/68, 5/127, 6/148, 7/204, 8/229, 9/238, 10/238.
Bowling: S Narwal 15-5-41-2, N Saini 15-6-28-3, M Sharma 9.3-1-46-2, P Sangwan 15-1-61-0, V Tokas 16-6-48-3, M Kumar 1-0-9-0.
Delhi (1st innings): S Dhawan not out 29, G Gambhir not out 6. Extras (NB-1, LB-1) 2. Total (0 wickets; 11 overs) 37. Bowling: P Singh 5-1-12-0, AV Choudhary 5-0-13-0, P Yadav 1-0-11-0.