February 1, 2025: Delhi secured a dominant victory in their final league stage Ranji Trophy clash against Railways, winning by an innings and 19 runs at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday. Despite being unable to make it to the knockout stages, this victory showcased a brilliant all-round performance, led by Sumit Mathur and captain Ayush Badoni.
Delhi won the toss and opted to bowl first, as Railways were bowled out for 241 in their first innings. Upendra Yadav (95) and Karn Sharma (50) fought back after Railways had fallen to a precarious 66/5, helping their side reach a respectable total. Sumit Mathur (3/20) and Navdeep Saini (3/62) were the standout bowlers for Delhi.
In reply, Delhi lost Arpit Rana early, but Sanat Sangwan (30) and Yash Dhull (32) built a solid partnership. The arrival of Virat Kohli at the crease was met with great anticipation, but he was dismissed cheaply for just 6 runs. Delhi was in trouble at 97/4, but a partnership between Mathur (86) and Badoni (99) lifted the team. Their 133-run stand brought Delhi close to taking a lead, with Mathur departing as the ninth wicket. Delhi were eventually dismissed for 374, taking a 133-run lead over Railways.
Railways' second innings was disastrous as only Mohammad Saif (31) and Ayan Chaudhari (30*) managed to reach double figures. Shivam Sharma (5/33) took a match-winning five-wicket haul to help bowl Railways out for just 114 runs, securing Delhi the win by an innings and 19 runs.
Sumit Mathur was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his excellent all-round performance. Despite their strong finish, Delhi’s points total was insufficient to progress to the knockout stages, finishing third in Group D.
Last Updated on February 1, 2025 by Disha Rojhe
