Shami shines as Bengal bowls out Delhi for 240

Old warhorse Mohammed Shami relied on his experience and smartness to capture four wickets in humid conditions as Bengal bowled out Delhi for 240 in the first innings despite Hrithik Shokeen’s fighting half-century on the first day of their Ranji Trophy opener at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground, here on Sunday.

After Bengal, comprising an international pace trio, chose to bowl, the Delhi batters toiled on a track offering variable bounce.

Gritty knocks from Shokeen (56, 98b, 3×4, 2×6) and Ayush Doseja (45, 92b, 6×4) and valuable contributions from the tailenders gave Delhi a respectable total.

Akash Deep provided the breakthrough in the sixth over as the delivery seamed and breached southpaw Sanat Sangwan’s defence.

Shami preserved his energy, bowling mostly shorter spells, and kept it tight. He began by finding Yash Dhull’s edge.

The right-left combination of Sarthak Ranjan (33, 80b, 4×4) and Doseja, presenting a hint of Gautam Gambhir’s style, patiently collected runs.

Off-break bowler Aamir Gani, who marked his return to red-ball cricket after two years with a three-wicket haul, broke the partnership as Ranjan was caught behind down the leg.

Ayush Badoni and Doseja added 41 before the Delhi captain flashed outside the off-stump off Mukesh Kumar.

Akash, who leaked runs while going for wickets, dismissed Anuj Rawat, Shami trapped the hard-working Doseja in front from around the wicket and Gani removed Dev Lakra as Delhi tottered at 164 for seven at tea.

The determined Shokeen, an off-break bowler with some batting credentials, evident from his sixes off Shami and Gani over midwicket, applied himself and guided his lower order colleagues well against Bengal’s push. Shokeen’s 40-run stand with Divij Mehra, who was bowled by Shami, was the highpoint of Delhi lower order’s resistance. Caught at slip off Shami in the final over of the day, Shokeen was the last man to fall.