Gautam Gambhir failed once again on a bowler friendly pitch as Karnataka humiliated Delhi by an innings and 160 runs inside two and half days in the Ranji Trophy group league encounter, here on Saturday.
However it was off-spinner K Gowtham, who made a comeback this season after his debut in 2012-13, grabbed a careerbest 5/35 and finished with a match haul of 8/61 to return with the Man of the Match award.
Starting their second innings with a huge deficit of 324, Delhi who were shot out for 90 in the first innings, were a shade better this time as they folded for 164 -- 50 minutes post lunch to concede the match with more than one day and a session to spare.
Presence of 'local boy' Gautam Gambhir failed to inspire Delhi. The left-handed opener managed identical scores of 2 in both innings. He edged one to Robin Uthappa in the slips off Abhimanyu Mithun exposing his technical problems on a pitch where there was some movement on offer.
Meanwhile, Delhi chief coach KP Bhaskar blamed the maladministration that has plagued DDCA as a reason for team's poor show against a formidable outfit like Karnataka.
An irate Bhaskar pulled no punches after the match.
"In Under-23, we had 45 players playing. So how long is it going to take for them to reach to the Ranji Trophy levelIJ If things don't improve, there might be a situation, where 50 players will be playing for Delhi in the eight Ranji Trophy games," Bhaskar stated.
"Things need to be put in place but at least there's a start with Justice Mudgal taking some initiative. let's hope things improve."
He further pointed out that the team was short on practice and mental preparation as they did not play any tournaments in the build-up to the season.
Tripura in command
Kalyani: Tripura seamer Rana Dutta claimed a hat-trick en route to a career-best 6/58 as Himachal Pradesh were left staring at an innings defeat in their Ranji Trophy group C match at Bengal Cricket Academy ground.
Tripura skipper Manisankar Murasingh, who shone with the bat with 84 to take them to a huge 549, rocked Himachal Pradesh earlier this morning with his twin blows — Prashant Chopra (9) and Nikhil Gangta (17). Himachal Pradesh were bowled out for 311 in 97.2 overs, conceding a 238-run first-innings lead. Following on, Himachal Pradesh were 19/1 at close on the penultimate day.