Ravindra Jadeja was unplayable on a spinners' paradise and added another seven to his first innings five-for as Saurashtra all but ensured Delhi's exit from Ranji Trophy with a 10-wicket victory inside two days in Group D, here Friday. While the famed Indian batters were huge flops across games, all-rounder Jadeja showed why he is still menacing on tracks that offer significant help.
The hosts pounded Delhi by dismissing them for a mere 94 in 25.2 overs in their second innings. This was after Saurashtra did well enough to score 271. The 83-run first innings lead on a difficult track proved to be decisive. Saurashtra scored the required 12 runs in just 3.1 overs. The match lasted little over 150 overs across two days.
After six rounds, Saurashtra (18 points) are back in the hunt to qualify for the knock-out stages from group D along with Tamil Nadu (19 from 5 games), who are in good position to win outright against Chandigarh (18 points from 5 games).
Delhi with 14 points have one home game left against Railways and even a seven-point win might not be enough if Saurashtra or Chandigarh manage outright wins in their last games.
The Rishabh Pant fans were left high and dry as he got out for 17 in the second essay after scoring 1. In the first innings, he had holed out in the deep trying to slog-sweep left-arm spinner Dharmendra Jadeja.
In the second innings, the more famous Jadeja, Ravindra, brought him forward and extra bounce had him edge to Sheldon Jackson in the first slip.
Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat had said before the game that they will prepare rank turner and go for seven points in their bid to make it to the knock-out stage.
Save skipper Ayush Badoni (44), who once again looked good and Pant, who tried to counterattack briefly, none of the Delhi batters had an inkling which of Jadeja's deliveries would turn and which ones would go straight.
Some of them tried to sweep without much success while others were not assured of their footwork.
The difference was in class of spin attack. Both the Jadejas -- Ravindra and Dharmendra -- didn't try to extract turn on a diabolical track and just pitched it in right areas. The two Delhi left-arm spinners Harsh Tyagi (4/71 in 17 overs) and Sumit Mathur (0/57 in 13 overs) went at more than four runs per over on a spin-friendly track.
After the end of the match, Jadeja was seen giving tips to Tyagi, who has been a big letdown for Delhi throughout the season while Pant had some advice for young Saurashtra keeper Harvik Desai.
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