Ranji Trophy 2018-19: Punjab has it easy against Delhi

Punjab took a session and a little more on the third day to complete a 10-wicket victory over Delhi in the Ranji Trophy match at the Feroz Shah Kotla here on Friday.

Punjab bowlers Vinay Choudhary (right) and Mayank Markande celebrate at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi on Friday.

Punjab took a session and a little more on the third day to complete a 10-wicket victory over Delhi in the Ranji Trophy match at the Feroz Shah Kotla here on Friday. The win took Punjab’s tally to nine from three matches while Delhi has just four to its credit.

Resuming at 106 for six, Delhi folded up for 179, leaving Punjab five runs to get for the victory. “It’s disappointing but we were not at our best strength. We ought to have exploited the home advantage but the first innings debacle let us down. The pitch did not play to our expectations and that cost us the match,” said Delhi skipper Nitish Rana, referring to the 107 that the team posted on the first day.

READ: As it happened

Punjab skipper Mandeep Singh was pleasantly surprised by the lack of fight from the Delhi camp. “It was a tough pitch to bat on but you could have scored by applying to the job. You had to wait to tackle the straight and low ball, essentially had to play on the front foot. I think Delhi had an inexperienced batting line up and for us it was a good toss to lose,” said Mandeep.

READ: Delhi stares at defeat on its home turf

Rana pointed out the Dhruv Shorey dismissal in the second innings, out first ball, given leg-before to a played-ball, as the decisive blow on the second day. “That decision hurt us. I also did not play the right shot. Also, Siddharth (Kaul) bowled really well (for Punjab). We should have batted better,” noted Rana.

“I don’t think I have batted in tougher conditions,” observed Mandeep. “The footwork had to be decisive. That was the key on such pitches,” he added.

The scores

Delhi first innings: 107.

Punjab first innings: 282.

Delhi second innings (Overnight 106-6): Anuj Rawat c Mandeep b Markande 12, Varun Sood lbw b Markande 25, Pulkit Narang c Jiwanjot b Choudhary 31, Vikas Mishra lbw b Markande 0, Simarjeet Singh (not out) 0. 

Extras (b-6, lb-4, w-1) 11, Total (in 84.2 overs): 179.

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-72, 3-98, 4-99, 5-99, 6-105, 7-119, 8-173, 9-179.

Bowling: Siddharth Kaul 14-1-54-2, Vinay Choudhary 33.2-12-39-4, Arpit Pannu 18-3-41-1, Mayank Markande 17-3-30-3, Gurkeerat Mann 2-0-5-0.

Punjab second innings: Jiwanjot Singh not out 6, Abhishek Sharma not out 2.

Total (for no loss in 2.1 overs) 8.

Delhi bowling: Narang 1-0-2-0, Mishra 1-0-2-0, Sood 0.1-0-4-0.