Left-arm spinner Varun Sood made full use of the turn on offer bagging a maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Delhi took 16 Gujarat wickets on the day to inch closer towards a hat-trick of outright wins in the Ranji Trophy, here today.
Starting the day at 34 for one in reply to Delhi's first innings score of 425, Gujarat were all out for 150 in the first innings conceding a mammoth first innings lead of 275 runs.
After being enforced follow-on, Gujarat were 152 for seven in the second essay with 123 runs in arrears to avoid innings defeat.
Sood was the pick of the bowlers in both innings as he goit 4/50 in the first innings followed by 5/37 in the second essay till now.
For someone, who had only 13 wickets from his first five first-class appearances, the current match-haul of 9/87 will only help him consolidate his position in the team.
With three wickets remaining, there is a possibility that Sood, better known as 'Balli' in Delhi's cricketing frarternity will bag his first 10-for in first-class cricket.
Not a great turner of the ball, Sood got a lot of help from the cracks that have grown with odd ball jumping and at times turning good six inches.
Offie Shivam Sharma (2/52) also gave him good support as none of the Gujarat batsmen save Jesal Karia (35 batting) could tackle the spin duo.
Brief Scores: Delhi 1st Innings 425/6 decl
Gujarat 1st Innings 150 (Varun Sood 4/50)
2nd Innings (f/0) 152/7 (Varun Sood 5/37, Shivam Sharma 2/52).
