Centuries by opener Akash Chopra and Gautam Gambhir went a long way in
helping Delhi to take a stranglehold on Jammu & Kashmir on the second
day in their North Zone Ranji Trophy league match at Jammu on
Saturday. Replying to J&K's first innings total of 198, Delhi who
resumed at 79 for no loss, declared at 466 for five. In arrears by 268
runs, the home team were 17 without loss in their second innings at
close.
Delhi openers Chopra and Ashu Dani (48) gave their side a flying start
by putting on 175 runs off 34.4 overs. Chopra, who dominated the
partnership, then added 66 runs for the second wicket off 13.3 overs
with Gambhir before he was dismissed for 133. Batting just over 3-1/2
hours, Chopra faced 177 balls and hit as many as 24 fours. In the
company of Mithun Minhas (31), Gambhir raised the score by 73 runs
during a third wicket association that lasted 15 overs. Finally
Gambhir and Virender Shewag added 97 runs for the fourth wicket off
just 12.2 overs. Gambhir was out at this stage for 114. During his
aggressive knock, Gambhir faced only 105 balls and hit 13 fours and a
six. Shewag and Pradeep Chawla (21 not out) then compounded J&K's
agony by adding 55 runs for the fifth wicket off 13.5 overs. Shewag
was then out after hitting 91 off only 78 balls with 13 fours and a
six. The declaration was made at Shewag's dismissal.
J&K openers Vidya Bhaskar (17) and Ajay Bhatti (0) were at the crease
when play was stopped at 4.27 pm due to bad light.