Ranji Trophy: Doseja and Mathur’s 144-run stand puts Delhi ahead of Services

Ayush Doseja and Sumit Mathur combined for a 144-run sixth-wicket partnership as Delhi reached 299 for six against Services at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam on Tuesday in the Elite Group C Ranji Trophy match. The pair’s stands left Delhi with a 33-run lead after Services were dismissed for 266 on the opening day.

The contest swung between the teams through the second day, forcing Delhi into a recovery after they were reduced to 135 for five in 39.2 overs. Doseja and Mathur, both left-handers, steadied the innings and batted through to close of play. The two have shown consistency for Delhi since entering the setup, a trend the partnership continued.

Doseja finished on 78 off 154 balls with 6x4, while Mathur remained unbeaten on 80 off 159 balls with 8x4 and 2x6 as Delhi closed at 299 for six. Their sixth-wicket stand of 144 runs was the backbone of Delhi’s first-innings recovery.

Mathur had an early reprieve when Pulkit Narang dropped him on nought at gully off Jayant Goyat, and Doseja survived a chance on 42 when Ravi Chauhan spilled a short-leg opportunity created by Narang’s off-spin. Those missed chances preceded the partnership that wrested control back to the hosts.

Doseja’s innings ended when Virender Nepal had the No. 5 batter caught down the leg side in the 87th over. For Services, breakthroughs on the day were shared among their bowlers, with left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma accounting for Priyansh Arya.

Priyansh Arya had earlier top-scored for Delhi with 58 off 88 balls (1x4, 3x6) before Arjun Sharma had him hole out at long-off. Ayush Badoni was dismissed, castled by a spinner while attempting a slog sweep, and Jayant Goyat took two wickets; Pulkit Narang and Virender claimed one apiece.

The scores: Services — 1st innings: 266. Delhi — 1st innings: Priyansh Arya c Goyat b Arjun 58, Sanat Sangwan c Paliwal b Narang 11, Yash Dhull b Goyat 33, Ayush Badoni b Arjun 7, Ayush Doseja c Nakul b Virender 78, Anuj Rawat b Goyat 0, Sumit Mathur (batting) 80, Dev Lakra (batting) 11; Extras (b-10, lb-9, nb-2): 21; Total (for six wkts. in 90 overs): 299 Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-114, 3-114, 4-134, 5-135, 6-279.

Services bowling: Narang 25-3-72-1, Virender 16-0-50-1, Goyat 16-2-51-2, Arjun 16-2-48-2, Tanwar 12-1-32-0, Chauhan 2-0-7-0, Dhankhar 3-1-20-0.

With play ending on Tuesday, Delhi head into the next session 33 runs in the lead after Services’ first-innings total of 266.