Akash Chopra and Gautam Gambhir hit centuries

Centuries by opener Akash Chopra and Gautam Gambhir went a long way in helping Delhi to take a stranglehold on Jammu & Kashmir on the second day in their North Zone Ranji Trophy league match at Jammu on Saturday. Replying to J&K's first innings total of 198, Delhi who resumed at 79 for no loss, declared at 466 for five. In arrears by 268 runs, the home team were 17 without loss in their second innings at close.

Delhi openers Chopra and Ashu Dani (48) gave their side a flying start by putting on 175 runs off 34.4 overs. Chopra, who dominated the partnership, then added 66 runs for the second wicket off 13.3 overs with Gambhir before he was dismissed for 133. Batting just over 3-1/2 hours, Chopra faced 177 balls and hit as many as 24 fours. In the company of Mithun Minhas (31), Gambhir raised the score by 73 runs during a third wicket association that lasted 15 overs. Finally Gambhir and Virender Shewag added 97 runs for the fourth wicket off just 12.2 overs. Gambhir was out at this stage for 114. During his aggressive knock, Gambhir faced only 105 balls and hit 13 fours and a six. Shewag and Pradeep Chawla (21 not out) then compounded J&K's agony by adding 55 runs for the fifth wicket off 13.5 overs. Shewag was then out after hitting 91 off only 78 balls with 13 fours and a six. The declaration was made at Shewag's dismissal.

J&K openers Vidya Bhaskar (17) and Ajay Bhatti (0) were at the crease when play was stopped at 4.27 pm due to bad light.