Ranji Trophy semi-finals day 2 roundup: Delhi in command, Karnataka obtain healthy lead
Bengal vs Delhi, Pune
The second day began with Bengal on 269/7, but their innings soon folded up for 286. Overnight batsmen Sreevats Goswami and Amir Gani failed to take Bengal into a position of dominance having already squandered multiple opportunities on the first day. Navdeep Saini removed Goswami for 29, Gani was run out for 8 and No. 10 Ashoke Dinda fell slogging to Kulwant Khejroliya as the innings ended at 286.
In reply, Delhi began with an attacking mindset. Senior batsman Gautam Gambhir and young Kunal Chandela found the fence at will. All the experience of Dinda and Mohammed Shami counted for nothing with both openers punishing over-pitched and short and wide deliveries at will. Gambhir, dropped on 44, completed his 41st first-class ton before Chandela got his maiden one. The final session, though, belonged to Bengal as, from 232 without loss, Delhi ended at 271/3, with Boddupalli Amit, Dinda and Shami getting a wicket each.
Brief Scores: Bengal 286 (Sudip Chatterjee 83; Saini 3/55) lead Delhi 271/3 (Gambhir 127, Chandela 113) by 15 runs.
Karnataka vs Vidarbha, Kolkata
After bowling out a strong Vidarbha batting line-up for 185 on the first day and having themselves stumbled at the beginning of their innings, Karnataka entered day two having already lost three wickets for just 36. But Karun Nair and Chidhambaram Gautam took the score to 160 before the latter was dismissed for 73 by Umesh Yadav. Right-arm pacer Rajneesh Gurbani then accounted for Stuart Binny, an in-form Shreyas Gopal and Krishnappa Gowtham cheaply, reducing Karnataka to 198/7.
But amidst all this, Nair stood firm and batted exceptionally to bring up his third century of a prolific season. In a sublime knock where he smashed 20 boundaries and a six, Nair ended the day unbeaten on 148 and showed his teammates how to bat on a pitch which had aided swing and seam on day one. He dug Karnataka out of trouble and a handsome lead of 109 meant they finished day two at 294/8.
Brief Scores: Karnataka 294/8 (Karun Nair 148*; Gurbani 5/90) lead Vidarbha 185 (Aditya Sarwate 47; Abhimanyu Mithun 5/45) by 109 runs.