Ranji Trophy: Delhi fight back, Tamil Nadu take big lead
By IANSTuesday, November 2, 2010
NEW DELHI/CHENNAI - Delhi came back strongly on the second day to restrict Bengal for 473 in their first innings before rustling up 89 runs for the loss of one wicket at stumps in the Ranji Trophy Super League match at Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi Tuesday.
Shikhar Dhawan was batting at 33 (59 b, 4×4) and Virat Kohli 51 (78b, 9×4). Bengal medium pacer Ashok Dinda took the lone Delhi wicket of Chetan Sharma who was trapped leg before for three.
Earlier, Bengal added 160 runs to their overnight total 313 for two, but lost eight wickets.
After a lacklustre first day, Delhi pace trio of Sumit Narwal (3-61), Parvinder Awana (2-88) and Pradeep Sangwan rose to the occasion. They took advantage of the early morning moisture and moved the ball. The Bengal batsmen were clearly uncomfortable at the crease. There were some dropped chances as well at the slips.
Arindam Das, who smashed 156 (258b, 20×4) was the first to be dismissed with Awana rattling his stumps. Das played 258 balls hitting 20 fours.
Narwal then bowled menacingly, claiming the wickets of Manoj Tiwary (69), Anustup Majumdar (11) and Laxmi Ratan Shukla with some movement of the ball.
Bengal were soon reduced to 357 for six, but Saurasish Lahiri (68 not out) and Wriddhiman Saha (36) came to the rescue adding 98 runs.
At Chennai, Tamil Nadu took big lead against Assam. Opener Anirudha Srikkanth survived an attack of cramps as Tamil Nadu rode on his unbeaten 87 to score 300 for four in reply to Assam’s first innings total of 184 at stumps.
Srikkanth was on 71 and Tamil Nadu 132 for two when he left the field after an attack of cramps, but returned after the fall of Subramaniam Badrinath who missed out on a possible century while getting out on 83 (2 x 6, 5 x 4).
But by then, Tamil Nadu had eased past Assam’s total as Badrinath and Satish Rajagopal (74 batting, 1 x 6, 7 x 4) added 135 runs for the fourth wicket.
Anirudda’s innings included two sixes and six fours.
The Assam bowlers did well to at least check Tamil Nadu’s scoring with off-spinner Arlen Konwar being the pick of them as he picked up two for 91 in 31 overs.
