India's Twenty20 World Cup star Gautam Gambhir scored a stupendous century to guide Delhi to a thumping win over Baroda on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final match in Indore on Tuesday.
Delhi, set a target of 271 to win, scored the required runs in 79.4 overs for the loss of three wickets with still a day left in the match.
In the morning, Pathan continued from where he left the previous evening and added 27 more runs before he was dismissed by Amit Bhandari on 113.
Resuming from their overnight score of 281 for the loss of six wickets, Baroda added 61 runs more and saw Yousuf Pathan go past his century in just 81 balls.
Gambhir captaining the side in the absence of Virender Sehwag played with authority as he scored a flamboyant 132 that was studded with 23 hits to the fence.
He was well supported by opener Shikhar Dhawan and Aditya Jain who scored 48 and 39 respectively. While Dhawan was run-out by Solanki in a confusion with Gambhir, Jain played a second fiddle to Gambhir and remained unbeaten.
Gambhir's high class exhibition of batting made Baroda bowling look brittle and spineless. Baroda struggled for wickets throughout the Delhi innings as the first wicket stand made Delhi's intentions clear. Gambhir and Dhawan added 136 runs for the first wicket.
Scorecard:
Baroda (1st innings): 199
Delhi (1st innings): 271
Baroda (2nd innings, overnight 281/6):
SS Parab b Awana 11
C Williams c Bisht b Awana 0
A Bilakhia b Bhatia 17
R Solanki lbw b Bhatia 96
S Gaekwad c & b Awana 46
P Shah b Nanda 15
Y Pathan not out 86
R Pawar not out 2
Y Pathan c Jain b Bhandari 113
R Pawar run out (Manhas) 11
S Vohra not out 24
S Singh lbw b Bhatia 0
S Veragi c & b Nanda 1
Extras: (b 6, lb 1, nb 1) 8
Total: (all out in 98.2 overs) 342
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-12, 3-56, 4-135, 5-160, 6-278, 7-303, 8-325, 9-326, 10-342
Bowling: A Bhandari 19-6-56-1, S Narwal 25-7-78-0, P Awana 16-0-74-3, R Bhatia 11-1-42-3, C Nanda 18.2-4-53-2, M Manhas 7-0-13-0, A Jain 2-0-19-0
Delhi (2nd innings, target: 271 runs):
S Dhawan run out (Solanki) 48
G Gambhir c Williams b Pathan 132
A Jain not out 39
M Manhas c Williams b Veragi 36
R Bhatia not out 6
Extras: (lb 8, nb 3) 11
Total: (for 3 wickets in 79.4 overs) 272
Fall of wickets: 1-136, 2-211, 3-266
Bowling: S Singh 16-1-59-0, S Veragi 11.4-2-43-1, S Vohra 16-5-34-0, Y Pathan 25-3-83-1, R Pawar 11-3-45-0
