Delhi fought back brilliantly after conceding the first innings lead to crush Uttar Pradesh by nine wickets with more than a day to spare and regain the Ranji Trophy after fifteen years here on Saturday.

Delhi, who trailed UP by 52 runs after making 290 in reply to their rivals’ first innings 342, set themselves up for victory by dismissing UP for a paltry 177 runs in the second innings and then rattling up 230 for one to win the final on a canter on the fourth and penultimate day.

It was Delhi’s seventh national crown and the first since they beat Tamil Nadu at home in 1991-92. Left-arm swing bowler Pradeep Sangwan captured five for 46 in the UP second innings and then opener Gautam Gambhir slammed his second century on the trot, an unbeaten 130 from 155 balls with 17 fours, to pilot Delhi to a comprehensive victory three minutes after tea.

The left-handed Gambhir, expected to make the India squad for next month’s triangular ODI series in Australia which is to be chosen on Sunday, put on 91 runs for the first wicket with first innings centurion Akash Chopra (33).

Gambhir’s second ton
It was Gambhir’s second Ranji ton on the trot, having reached three figures in the semifinals at Indore against Baroda. He also added 139 runs in quick time with one-down Shikhar Dhawan (54 in 100 balls with seven fours) for the unbroken second wicket to help Delhi surge to victory in the second over after tea.

Earlier, UP collapsed by losing their last four wickets for 23 runs this morning in 10.2 overs after resuming at their overnight 154 for six.

Delhi had last made to the finals in 1996-97 against Mumbai at Gwalior, the previous time the summit clash had been held on neutral territory, and lost. This time around, they were determined not to let go of the opportunity though UP gave a spirited fight before going off the boil.

Delhi went in for the kill in the morning session when Sangwan polished off three of the four remaining wickets by packing off overnight batsmen Bhuvanesh Kumar (19) and Amir Khan as well as Praveen Kumar (1) .

Amit Bhandari terminated the innings by sending back Pravin Gupta for 13 and then Delhi went on a flier with Gambhir in an attacking mode to notch up 76 for no loss in 21 overs before lunch. Gambhir cracked nine fours in his first 50 which came off only 61 balls before slowing down a bit. Chopra was the lone batsman to be dismissed, off left-arm spinner Pravin Gupta, but later the UP bowlers could do little as Gambhir and Dhawan went on the rampage . Delhi, who had won the championship earlier in 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1985-86, 1988-89 and 19991-92, received Rs 50 lakh and the coveted trophy from national selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar. UP had to remain content with the runners-up prize and purse of Rs 25 lakh.