Gambhir's century helps Delhi win Ranji Trophy

Reuters

Posted online: Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 1550 hrs IST

Mumbai, January 19:
Gautam Gambhir scored an unbeaten century to help Delhi win India's first-class domestic cricket championship on Saturday.

Delhi beat Uttar Pradesh by nine wickets with a day to spare in a low-scoring final to regain the coveted Ranji Trophy, the country's premier inter-state competition, after 16 years.

India's ODI opener Gambhir hit 130 not out with 17 fours to help Delhi race to the target of 230 just after tea on day four.

Opener Tanmay Srivastava scored a century (105) and Ravikant Shukla smashed 96 to help Uttar Pradesh, champions in 2005-06, post 342 after being asked to bat first.

Uttar Pradesh medium-pacer Praveen Kumar took eight for 68 to restrict Delhi to 290 in the first innings after former test opener Akash Chopra (102) and Rajat Bhatia (139 not out) hit centuries.

But Delhi seamer Pradeep Sangwan took five for 46 to help bowl out Uttar Pradesh for 177 in their second essay for match figures of nine for 126 before Gambhir's 154-ball belter sealed the victory.

National selectors will announce the ODI team on Sunday for next month's triangular series in Australia also involving the hosts and Sri Lanka.