New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Gaurav Chabra’s maiden century played a key role in Delhi gaining the crucial first innings lead against Tamil Nadu at the Palam ground here and enter the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy Sunday.
Delhi resumed needing another 169 runs to overhaul Tamil Nadu’s first innings score of 463 all out, overcoming a couple of hiccups on the way. The hosts declared for 490 for eight after tea.

Ravichandran Ashwin (11) and U. Sushil (11) played out the 10 mandatory overs for 27 runs and the match was drawn.

Delhi now play an away game against defending champions Mumbai, who beat Haryana at Rohtak in another quarterfinal match.

Earlier, the partnership of overnight batsmen Chabbra (100, 363 minutes, 246 balls, 12×4) and skipper Rajat Bhatia (94, 362 minutes, 10×4)) flourished in the same vein. The two comfortably stretched their fifth wicket stand to 122 as Tamil Nadu bowlers failed to create any inroads.

Delhi could have taken the lead by lunch had Bhatia not opted to go for a rash single. A Chandrasekar Ganapathy throw from mid on found Bhatia short of crease, with Delhi still trailing by 107 runs. This was the second time this season Bhatia fell in the nineties, having got out for 99 against Maharashtra in the league stage.

Chabra and wicket-keeper Puneet Bisht (75, 162 minutes, 119 balls, 11×4, 1×6) then carried Delhi to 382 for five to lunch. Chabbra’s brought up his hundred soon after with 12 fours. He, however, couldn’t continue further and was trapped leg before by Ashwin, when Delhi was just 12 runs from the lead.

The new Sumit Narwal failed to stick for long and fell in the next over to Aushik Srinivas (2-100). But just when it looked Delhi has panicked, Bisht and Pradeep Sangwan joined forces. A cover drive from Bisht off Srinivas, nine minutes before tea, ensured Delhi a place in the semifinals.

Bisht’s knock, that included 11 fours and a six, came to end on the last ball before tea when he spooned a catch to Subramanium Badrinath at the first slip off Srikkanth Anirudha.

Chabra said his captain Bhatia told him to approach ball by ball.

“We were not sure whether we will chase the Tamil Nadu total, but we were hoping to go past as our batsmen were in good form. The pressure was there but my captain told me not to look at the total and to go ball by ball,” Chabra said.

“After this performance, we will be playing against Mumbai with lot of confidence. The pressure will be now be on Mumbai.”

Tamil Nadu coach W.V. Raman was gracious in defeat and said they were “well and truly beaten”.

“To chase a score of 460 plus after the loss of two big wickets is not easy. The credit goes to Delhi bastmen who applied themselves. It was a job well done,” Raman said.