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September
27, 2008
 Rest
of India clinched the 46th edition of the Zal Irani Trophy by
beating last year Ranji Champions Delhi by 187 runs at Baroda.
Rest of India got into a great position to win the match when
they had their opponents reduced to 113 for 3 after giving a
target of 378. On the fourth day, things panned out very well
for the Indian Cricket Team overall with Gautam Gambhir
playing a fine innings and the spin twins Kumble and Harbhajan
finding their rhythm ahead of the big series against
Australia.
Delhi provided a surprise this morning by
sending Aakash Chopra to walk in with the overnight unbeaten
batsman
Gautam Gambhir. Aakash Chopra was actually not
expected to bat at all after his ankle injury yesterday. But
he did come out to bat along with a runner. A lot was expected
from him to get Delhi back in the match as it wasn't that long
ago when he had changed a pathetic situation into a winning
one for his team in the Mohammad Nissar Trophy match through a
double century in the third innings. However, Chopra's show
was for just the one ball as he attempted an expansive drive
which only crashed back off the inside edge onto the stumps.
The lucky bowler was Zaheer, who picked another first ball
wicket in this game.
There wasn't any fight coming from the
remaining batsmen which left Gautam Gambhir all alone in the
centre. Gambhir made best use of the strike whenever possible
to almost get to a hundred. But he too had to depart
eventually when he had edged his attempted cut shot off Kumble
to the wicket keeper. The southpaw scored his 91 runs in 176
balls with the help of a dozen boundaries. By lunch, Rest of
India had wrapped up the match with Delhi folding to 190 in
60.5 overs. Zaheer (12-0-47-3), Kumble (11-4-19-3) and
Harbhajan (14.5-4-31-4) were at their best in this innings.
Sehwag registers a complaint against Munaf
Virender Sehwag, the Delhi Captain had
officially complained about Munaf Patel to the Match Referee
following a spat that happened on Day 2. Interestingly, the
spat that had occurred had changed the complexion of the game
with Munaf becoming very aggressive to rip through the Delhi
line-up. The spat had happened when Munaf was allegedly
sledging Aakash Chopra during his first over which didn't go
well with Sehwag, who was heard saying 'Munaf tameez sey rehna'
(Munaf behave yourself). There was a lot of speculation
yesterday evening when Virender Sehwag left the match to
travel back to Delhi once he had no further role to play.
Media had reported that he was upset about certain things but
it was later confirmed that he was suffering from Migraine.
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