By Admin 
Two seasons ago in the Ranji Trophy, Pondicherry had romped to a nine-wicket win over Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The southern side may harbour hopes of a repeat after completely dominating day three of its Elite Group-D Ranji contest against Yash Dhull and Co. on Monday.
In response to Delhi’s first-innings total of 294, Pondicherry amassed 481 to take a handsome first-innings lead of 187 runs. The opening pair of Arpit Rana and Sanat Sangwan guided the host to 76 for none in its second innings at the close of play, but it still trails by 111 runs.
While Ajay Rohera, unbeaten on 107 overnight, went on to make 151, it was former India spinner Jayant Yadav and all-rounder Aman Khan who inflicted fresh wounds on the opposition on Monday.
Pondicherry’s Rohera in action against Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
Jayant scored 71 off 123 deliveries. Aman’s power-hitting prowess came to the fore in a 47-ball 66 that comprised 12 fours and two sixes. Having resumed the third day on 240 for four, it took less than seven overs in the morning session for the visiting team to overhaul Delhi’s total.
The 28-year-old Aman, who has played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals in the IPL, was responsible for the rapid flow of runs early on. He got to his half-century with a punch off medium-pacer Sumit Kumar that sped to the cover boundary.
With Delhi very quickly on the defensive, Aman had more runs for the taking. But in an effort to keep the foot on the throttle, the man from Mumbai, who moved to Pondicherry last season in search of regular game time, holed out at long-off against Sumit Mathur’s left-arm spin.
Subsequently, Jayant, having notably hit a Test ton against England in 2016, forged a stand of 88 runs with the well-set Rohera. It went on to deflate Delhi’s spirits altogether.
The scores: Delhi — 1st innings: 294.
Pondicherry — 1st innings: Vedant Bhardwaj b Simarjeet 10, Ajay Rohera c sub (Kandpal) b Simarjeet 151, Paras Ratnaparkhe c Rawat b Mathur 43, Anand Singh Bais c Doseja b Shokeen 48, Sidhaant Addhatrao c Rawat b Simarjeet 14, Aman Khan c Shokeen b Mathur 66, Jayant Yadav c Rawat b Sumit 71, Puneet Datey b Shokeen 26, Sagar Udeshi b Mathur 25, Gourav Yadav c Dhull b Shokeen 5, Abin Mathew (not out) 0; Extras (nb-1, b-10, lb-11): 22; Total (in 117.1 overs): 481.
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-110, 3-203, 4-224, 5-308, 6-396, 7-421, 8-465, 9-481.
Delhi bowling: Sumit 14-1-75-1, Simarjeet 24-5-82-3, Grewal 20-1-94-0, Shokeen 29-4-121-3, Mathur 27.1-4-77-3, Arpit 3-0-11-0.
Delhi — 2nd innings: Arpit Rana (batting) 40, Sanat Sangwan (batting) 24; Extras (nb-1, b-4, lb-7): 12; Total (for no loss in 23 overs): 76.
Pondicherry bowling: Mathew 3-0-14-0, Datey 5-0-17-0, Udeshi 7-1-21-0, Jayant 8-2-13-0.