Ranji Trophy: Delhi out of the race as Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir fail yet again

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were dismissed cheaply in yet another pathetic batting show by Delhi, who are now staring at a big defeat against table toppers Karnataka in their final Ranji Trophy group league match, here on Wednesday.

Having conceded a first innings lead of 87 runs after Karnataka scored 289 in their first innings, Delhi were tottering at 132 for six at stumps on day three with a lead of 45 runs and four wickets in hand.

Sehwag's (11) woeful first-class season might have ended today as he was trapped by a HS Sharath delivery that hit him below knee-roll having cut back a little. The umpire had little hesitation in giving him out.

He had slashed one for four over slips in his 34-ball stay. Sehwag's Ranji season ended with 234 runs at a dismal average of less than 20 in 13 innings with a second innings 50 against Haryana.

It will be highly unlikely that Sehwag will be picked in the North Zone team with the likes of Jiwanjot Singh and even his opening partner Gambhir (578) having scored lot more than him. It was a pity to see the 35-year old bespectacled opener struggle against unknown domestic bowlers even on benign pitches.

Gambhir (26) again played those streaky shots through the slips with only confident boundary being clip through mid-wicket. He was dismissed before Sehwag when a ball kept low and he didn't commit fully on frontfoot as it thudded on the pads.

Manan Sharma was also adjudged leg before by Ronit More (3/27) when a delivery hit him low as Delhi were 41 for three going into tea.

Mithun Manhas (32) hit some flowing boundaries and just as he was getting into the groove, Shreyas Gopal's acrobatic catch off his own bowling saw him head back to pavilion.

Rajat Bhatia (30) and Rahul Yadav (17) tried to stem the rot with a 39 run stand before Ronit bowled an outswinger that took edge off Bhatia's bat to land in CM Gautham's gloves.

Yadav also lost his concentration, dragging one back to his stumps as Delhi were in total mess with six down before umpire stopped play due to bad light. Varun Sood was on eight and Manoj Chauhan had not opened his account.

Earlier, rookie opener Karun Nair (105) got his maiden first class century, driving Manan Sharma through mid-on as Karnataka managed 63 runs more to their overnight total of 226 for five.

Nair was finally out when Ashish Nehra (3/39) trapped the youngster leg before as the lower order did not contribute much.

Brief Scores:

Delhi 202 & 132 for 6 (Gautam Gambhir 26, Virender Sehwag 11, Ronit More 3/27).

Karnataka 287 (Karun Nair 105, Stuart Binny 88, Varun Sood 3/93, Ashish Nehra 3/39).