Ranji Trophy: Team Delhi scripts famous victory over Railways ‘sans Virat Kohli’, Bengal outclass Punjab

Delhi crushed Railways by an innings in the Ranji Trophy, with Ayush Badoni’s 99 and Shivam Sharma’s five-wicket haul leading them to a dominant victory.

In the Ranji Trophy match, on Saturday Virat Kohli’s return goes well as his team, Delhi, clinched the win against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The home team defeated the Railways by innings and 19 runs. With this win, Delhi gained 7 crucial points in the table. Delhi scored 374 in response to the Railways’ 241 and bowled them out for 114 in the second innings to earn the win.

Railways’ struggle with the bat

Railways’ first innings saw them posting a total of 241 runs. Upendra Yadav played really well, allowing 95 runs off 177 balls, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled to support him adequately. Delhi’s bowling attack, led by Navdeep Saini and Sumit Mathur, kept the opposition in check, with Saini taking 3 for 62 and Mathur contributing 3 for 20 in 10.4 overs.

Delhi’s strong batting response

Coming to bat, Delhi gathered a solid 374 in their first innings. Ayush Badoni played an outstanding innings as captain, narrowly missing a century with a brisk 99 from 77 balls, featuring 12 fours and 3 sixes. Sumit Mathur also played a big role, scoring 86 off 206 balls. The batting performance laid a strong foundation for Delhi, despite a brief hiccup with Virat Kohli being dismissed for 6 runs off 15 deliveries, bowled by Himanshu Sangwan.

Virat Kohli’s brief innings end in dissapointment

Virat Kohli, returning to domestic cricket with much anticipation, unfortunately, didn’t stay at the crease for long. After scoring just 6 runs, he was dismissed by a sharp delivery from Sangwan. Despite his brief appearance, Kohli’s presence on the field was a powerful draw for fans.

Railways’ second innings collapse

In the second innings, Railways faced Delhi’s persistent bowling attack, collapsing for just 114 runs. Shivam Sharma was the star bowler for Delhi, bagging 5 wickets for only 33 runs in 11 overs. His fantastic performance ensured Railways couldn’t mount a comeback, cementing Delhi’s win. Sumit Mathur’s all-around contribution earned him the Player of the Match title. His vital knock of 86 runs and crucial wickets were important for Delhi.

Bengal thrash Punjab

In another Ranji Trophy match at Eden Gardens, Bengal thrashed Punjab by an innings and 13 runs. Punjab batted first, managing 191 runs in their first innings. Anmol Malhotra was the standout performer for Punjab, scoring an unbeaten 106, but Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal’s exceptional bowling (4/68) kept them in check.

Bengal’s batting response was strong, scoring 343 runs, with Jaiswal again showing his all-around talent by scoring a solid 111. Abishek Porel contributed 52, providing valuable support. Gurnoor Brar’s 4-wicket haul for Punjab tried to dent Bengal’s innings, but Bengal built a notable lead. In the second innings, Punjab struggled, only managing 139 runs. Jaiswal was unstoppable, taking another 4 wickets for 69 runs. Sumit Mohanta also chipped in with 3 wickets for 29 runs, sealing a convincing win for Bengal. Jaiswal’s brilliant performance with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Match award.