Ranji Trophy 2017/18: Gautam Gambhir, Kunal Chandela Shone for Delhi; Karnataka on Top against Vidarbha

In Pune, on the second day of the semi-final clash of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2017-18, Delhi rode on the magnificent centuries of opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir and his partner Kunal Chandela to make things difficult for the Manoj Tiwary-led Bengal.

At stumps, Delhi was 271 for three in 77.2 overs which further saw the Rishabh Pant-led side trailing by just 15 runs. Fast bowling spearhead Ashok Dinda alongside his new-ball partner Mohammed Shami and Boddupalli Amit picked wicket apiece. Nitish Rana faced 26 balls for his 11, and he is expected to be joined by Pant on the third morning of the semi-final clash.

Dhruv Shorey was the second wicket-to-go when Ashok Dinda claimed his wicket. Shorey consumed 33 balls for his 12 runs.

(Read Also: Ranji Trophy 2017-18: Contrasting day for Karnataka-Vidarbha; Bengal decent against Delhi)

Earlier, in the day, Delhi had a rollicking start with Chandela and Gambhir registered magnificent 232-run stand for the first wicket in 61.2 overs, before gloveman Shreevats Goswami caught Chandela.

Before returning to the pavilion, Chandela smashed 113 off 192 balls. His innings included 18 boundaries and a maximum. On the other side, Gambhir was on the role, as his patient knock saw him smashing 21 boundaries. He scored 127 off 216 deliveries.

Gambhir was dismissed by Shami when Goswami completed a regulation catch behind the stumps which further enforced the stumps. After starting off the innings with the overnight score of 267 for the loss of seven wickets in 87 overs, Bengal added 17 runs to the tally which further saw their first innings total of 286 in 94.2 overs.

Pacer Navdeep Saini was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets in 21 overs. The fast bowler conceded 55 runs.

Karnataka Vs Vidarbha – Day Two Report:

Karnataka faced 14 overs on the first day, as the Vinay Kumar-led side went on to add 258 runs on the second day which further saw them losing five wickets. At stumps on day two of the semifinal clash, Karnataka posted 294 for eight in 93 overs. Pertinently, Karnataka took the solid lead of 109 runs in the first innings.

The middle-order batsman Karun Nair steadied the ship and is batting on 148 runs after facing 261 deliveries. He smashed 20 boundaries and a maximum.

(Read Further: Ranji Tie Between Vidarbha-Karnataka Delayed Due To 25K Marathon)

The 24-year-old Rajneesh Gurbani has been at the forefront with the ball. In a bid to control the innings, Gurbani claimed another five-wicket haul after conceding 90 runs in 30 overs.

For the fourth-wicket Nair alongside wicket-keeper batsman, CM Gautam forged a 139-run stand which further saw the latter registering 73 off 125 balls. Gautam was caught by Akshay Wakhare on the bowling of pace gun Umesh Yadav, who added second-wicket to his bowling column in 26 overs while giving away 71 runs.

On the other side, Vinay (20) has been patient on the crease which saw him facing 74 balls. Stuart Binny (4 off 12) couldn’t do much, as he was dismissed by Gurbani when Akshar Wadkar completed a simple catch. Shreyas Gopal scored seven off 13 balls, as Krishnappa Gowtham faced three balls for a solitary-run.

Moreover, Abhimanyu Mithun was bowled by left-arm orthodox spinner Aditya Sarwate after posting 25-ball 10.