Sehwag, Gambhir fail again as Delhi shot out for 235
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir's poor run of form continued as a formidable Delhi batting line-up could manage only 235 against Uttar Pradesh on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy group league match here today.
The likes of Sehwag, Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Unmukt Chand were all back in the pavilion even before the lunch session, much to the disappointment of the capacity 15,000 crowd which expected some fireworks from the India stars in the Group B match.
Sehwag managed 25 while Gambhir and Kohli contributed 32 and 14 respectively. Unmukt, as usual, hit some lovely drives but did not go beyond an individual score of 28.
On a hazy day at the Nehru Stadium, Uttar Pradesh's right-arm medium pacer Imtiaz Ahmed bowled to a disciplined line as the much vaunted Delhi line-up could not make an impact.
Imtiaz grabbed five for 59 while out of favour seamer Praveen Kumar did his cause no harm by taking three wickets for 56 runs.
Delhi's first innings lasted only only 65.2 over. The highlight of the Delhi innings was 86 runs added for the fifth wicket by Mithun Manhas and Punit Bisht.
Bisht top-scored with 52 while Manhas got out after scoring 42. Delhi lost their last six wickets for 43 runs in 11.1 overs as Imtiaz took four wickets in the post-lunch session.
Sehwag and Gambhir once again flattered to deceive as they could not put up a significant partnership which would have given them requisite confidence before the Test series against England.
There was nothing much in the 22-yard strip but poor shot selection is something that Sehwag and Gambhir should be especially worried about.
Sehwag, infact, got a reprieve on 14 when rival skipper Suresh Raina dropped him at second slip off Bhuvneshwar Kumar's delivery but did not cash in on the opportunity.
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