WATCH | Delhi batsmen survive a massive comedy of errors in Ranji Trophy

After thrashing Bengal bowlers in the semifinal where Delhi’s Gautam Gambhir and Kundal Chandela ran rampage with a thumping 232-run opening partnership, the duo failed to make any mark whatsoever as they lost both of them within the first 30 runs. Just as Nitish Rana and Dhruv Shorey seemed to show some composure following their early collapse, Aditya Thakare scalped Rana’s wicket 14 overs later reducing Delhi to 65/3. 

The incident in question occurred in the 34th over with skipper Rishabh Pant and Shorey at the crease. Shorey punched Thakare’s back of the length delivery towards the cover for a single where the confusion actually started. The skipper called for a single and midway in the pitch left his partner high and dry. The confused call-up left both the batsmen at the non-striker’s end with Delhi’s dugout getting ready for a cheap dismissal. 

However, to Vidarbha’s misfortune, not only did the fielder choose the wrong end to throw that saw Pant reach safely, but his throw was further misfielded by another fielder which allowed Shorey to run back to the striker’s end after the massive comedy of errors. As if that was not enough, the wicketkeeper failed to collect the ball as well from the following hasty throw resulting in an overthrow in the end as Delhi got a single.

However, the mis-field didn’t prove to be too costly as Vidarbha's star in the semi-final, Rajneesh Gurbani got Pant caught behind the wicket to wicketkeeper Akshay Wadkar with a delivery wide outside off stump.