Delhi’s Ranji Trophy campaign has taken a dramatic turn, with the team on the cusp of its first outright victory of the season. After trailing Assam by 116 runs in the first innings, Delhi staged a remarkable comeback on Monday, leaving Assam reeling at 44 for three in the second innings.
The turnaround was sparked by an unlikely pair in Sumit Mathur and Siddhant Sharma. Despite being primarily bowlers, they showcased their all-round abilities by stitching together a crucial 166-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Mathur, a left-arm spinner, notched his maiden First Class century in just his second appearance, while Sharma, a left-arm seamer, fell just short of the three-figure mark with 89.
Their partnership helped Delhi reach a formidable total of 454, giving them a 124-run lead. The lower-order resurgence began with Harshit Rana’s half-century in the morning session.
Assam’s second innings got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets in quick succession. Subham Mandal was trapped lbw by Siddhant Sharma, while Rishav Das and Abhishek Thakuri fell to Harshit Rana and Money Grewal, respectively.
Delhi’s bowlers maintained the pressure, with Rana, Grewal, and Sharma sharing the wickets. Skipper Denish Das, who was struck on the abdomen by a delivery from Himanshu Chauhan, was forced to retire hurt and taken to a nearby hospital.
With Assam needing 80 runs to avoid defeat and Delhi requiring seven wickets for victory, the match is poised for an exciting finish.
