Gambhir,Sehwag fail as Punjab beat Delhi

Punjab will take a lot of positives from this game as despite being shot out for 74 in the first innings,they came back to win the match.

Punjab now have 23 points from seven games and will be aiming for six points as they try to get a last-eight berth.

For Delhi,it’s almost end of the road as they are at fifth place with 19 points and even an outright win with bonus points against Karnataka won’t ensure a knock-out berth.

Delhi began the day at 60 for three and Gambhir (30) poked at an away going delivery from Manpreet Gony to Gurkeerat Singh in the slip-cordon.

Virender Sehwag (12) played a nice drive off Gony and also fended a short ball that sailed over slips for another four. But he again disappointed trying to hit Jaskaran Singh over mid-on. However,trying to check his shot,the ball just lobbed towards mid-on for a simple catch.

With Gambhir and Sehwag out in the first session,Delhi were reduced to 82 for five. But nightwatchman Ashish Nehra (16,128 balls) showed a lot of character as he was involved in a 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Bhatia.

Bhatia,who hit his 14th first-class hundred,faced 182 balls laced with 16 fours in the process.

Once off-spinner Gurkeerat Singh removed Nehra and wicketkeeper-batsman Rahul Yadav (0) off successive deliveries,victory was just a matter of time. It was Bhatia,who was the last man to be dismissed when he edged a Gony delivery to wicketkeeper Gitansh Khera.

UP earn 3 points in drawn match

Uttar Pradesh walked away with three points owing to their first innings lead in a Group B Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh that ended in a draw on the fourth and final day in Kanpur on Wednesday.

Chasing a victory target of 314 runs,Madhya Pradesh were 140 for seven in their second innings at the close of play with Salman Baig (31 not out) and Anurag Singh (11 not out) in the middle.

Resuming at 78 for three,Uttar Pradesh had declared their second innings at 178 for five with India international Suresh Raina hitting a classy 134-ball 84,laced with 11 fours,while ‘old war horse’ Mohammad Kaif just felling one run short of his half-century at 49.

Rajasthan walk away with first innings lead

As expected,Rajasthan easily took the first innings lead against Tamil Nadu as their Ranji Trophy Group B match ended in a tame draw in Chennai on Wednesday.

Overnight Rajasthan batsmen Hirishikesh Kanitkar (52) and Rajesh Bishnoi (68) completed their half-centuries as the visitors scored 438 before being all out in reply to Tamil Nadu score of 318.

The hosts had made 76 for no loss in their second essay when stumps were drawn for the final time in the match.