Ranji Trophy | Jammu inches closer to a historic win after Vanshaj’s six-wicket haul

For the second time in the Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy clash against Jammu & Kashmir at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi’s batting unit was guilty of tumbling like nine pins. Having lost its last five wickets for 29 runs to end with a total of 211 in the first innings, Delhi went from 244 for three to 277 all out in the space of 71 deliveries in its second essay on day three. Left-arm spinner Vanshaj Sharma, a 22-year-old from Jammu who has learnt his cricket in Delhi, was responsible for the host’s predicament with figures of six for 68 in 16.1 overs on Monday. It has allowed J&K to scent a first-ever victory against Delhi in the history of the First Class competition.

When stumps were called, the visitor was 55 for two in pursuit of a target of 179. For Delhi, the game now hinges on its bowling attack pulling off a miraculous turnaround on Tuesday.

While Delhi captain Ayush Badoni came to the fore with a 73-ball 72 on the third day, his dismissal with four overs to go for the tea interval prompted a spate of wickets. In the 58th over, when his side had erased a 99-run first-innings deficit and taken its lead to 145 runs, the 25-year-old’ sweep against Vanshaj was in the air long enough for Vivrant Sharma to sprint from long leg and complete a stunning catch diving to his left. It halted Badoni’s 107-run association with Ayush Doseja.

Vanshaj went on to run through Delhi’s lower order. With next to no resistance from his partners after Badoni’s wicket, Doseja’s desperation was evident in a slog across the line against off-spinner Sahil Lotra. The left-hand batter missed and heard the death rattle.

If there is any hope for Delhi on the final day, it is that off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen got one to turn sharply and clatter Vivrant’s off-stump towards the close of play.

The scores:

Delhi — 1st innings: 211.

Jammu & Kashmir — 1st innings: 310.

Delhi — 2nd innings: Arpit Rana b Lotra 43, Sanat Sangwan c Samad b Vanshaj 34, Yash Dhull b Mushtaq 34, Ayush Badoni c Vivrant b Vanshaj 72, Ayush Doseja b Lotra 62, Sumit Mathur c Samad b Vanshaj 0, Anuj Rawat c sub (Hassan) b Lotra 16, Hrithik Shokeen c & b Vanshaj 1, Simarjeet Singh b Vanshaj 0, Manan Bhardwaj (not out) 0, Money Grewal b Vanshaj 1; Extras (nb-1, b-8, lb-5): 14; Total (in 69.1 overs): 277.

Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-86, 3-137, 4-244, 5-244, 6-267, 7-270, 8-274, 9-276.

J&K bowling: Nabi 12-1-43-0, Lotra 23-4-73-3, Mushtaq 10-0-48-1, Vanshaj 16.1-1-68-6, Sunil 8-1-32-0.

J&K — 2nd innings (Target 179): Qamran Iqbal (batting) 32, Shubham Khajuria b Bhardwaj 8, Vivrant Sharma b Shokeen 3, Vanshaj Sharma (batting) 0; Extras (b-12): 12; Total (for two wickets. in 15 overs): 55.

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-52.

Delhi bowling: Simarjeet 2-0-16-0, Bhardwaj 6-0-17-1, Shokeen 4-0-8-1, Badoni 3-1-2-0.