Gambhirâ??s unbeaten ton culminates match in a draw

Nov 27:   Openers Gautam Gambhir (137 n.o.) and Aakash Chopra (81) add 188 runs for the first wicket denying any chance to Mumbai team for outright victory.

Amending his first innings mistake Delhi’s southpaw Gautam Gambhir came up with a fine resolute unbeaten century against Mumbai in his second essay on the final day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group ‘A’ match forcing the match into a draw at the Wankhede Stadium here on Monday.

The meticulous effort made by Gambhir all through the day finally paid off as Mumbai hopes of clinching outright victory were dashed and the visitors gained three points on the basis of first innings lead.

Mumbai had to content with only one point in the drawn tie. Delhi’s score was at 252 for the loss of three wickets with Gautam Gambhir on an unconquered 137 (378m, 278b, 14x4s, 1x6) when both the captains mutually agreed to call off the match prior to the start of the mandatory overs.

Earlier both the openers went into the field chasing the stiff target of 387. Chopra and Gambhir put on 188 for the opening wicket, adding 129 to the overnight score.

Mumbai pacers gave some hard time to the left-right combination of Gambhir and Chopra by restraining their supply of runs. Mumbai’s seam attack in Avishkar Salvi, Ajit Agarkar and Abhishek Nayar were very effective with their outside-the-off-stump line, using the short pitch deliveries and gave no leeway to the openers to hit the boundary at ease.

On the contrary it was a brilliant exhibition of determined batting, which really frustrated the home team. They tried their hard to beat the concentration of Chopra and Gambhir in the first session with their tactical acumen but did not find any way as all the efforts went in vain.

Delhi required 212 in the last sessions with 10 wickets in hand. When it appeared that the openers had settled down, Salvi and Nayar struck the big blows just after lunch following which Delhi batsmen gave up the chase and started playing for a draw.

Salvi trapped Chopra (81, 218b, 10x4s, 1x6) plumb in front and immediately stunned skipper Virender Sehwag with a delivery that caught him at the crease in the line of the stumps.

Later Nayar trapped Virat Kohli in front with Delhi side floundering at 188 for three from 189 without loss in the space of just eleven balls.

Agarkar bowled three maiden overs testing Gambhir’s patience at the score of 99. Actually he took 32 minutes and 23 balls to notch up his 21st first class century, his second against Mumbai.

The lackadaisical approach of the left-hander and Mithun Manhas after the fall of Kohli cleared the picture of Delhi’s side that they would not take any chance to chase a high fourth-innings target.

BRIEF SCORES

Mumbai 1st innings: 166.

Delhi 1st innings: 251.

Mumbai 2nd innings: 471 for nine declared.

Delhi 2nd innings: A. Chopra lbw b Salvi 81, G. Gambhir (not out) 137, V. Sehwag lbw b Salvi 0, V. Kohli lbw Nayar 0, M. Manhas (not out) 16; Extras (lb-5, nb-7, w-6) 18. Total (for three wkts. in 96 overs) 252.

Fall of wickets: 1-188, 2-188 and 3-189

Mumbai bowling:

Salvi 17-4-31-2, Agarkar 14-7-16-0, Powar 26-4-77-0, Nayar 19-4-57-1, Patel 15-1-42-0, R. Sharma 3-0-6-0, Naik 2-0-18-0.