By IANS
Mumbai : An unbeaten century by skipper Gautam Gambhir helped Delhi beat Uttar Pradesh by nine wickets to win the Ranji Trophy for the seventh time after a gap of 16 years here Saturday.
In a topsy-turvy national championship final, Uttar Pradesh, resuming at their overnight score of 154 for six, were skittled out for just 177 runs in the second innings, leaving Delhi to get 230 runs to win, as medium-pacer Pradeep Sangwan struck quick blows to finish with five wickets. Uttar Pradesh made 342 runs in the first innings.
Gambhir, who struck a brilliant unbeaten 130 (213 minutes, 154 balls, 17x4s), put his side on course to victory with a 91-run opening stand with Akash Chopra (33). Then he had an unbroken century stand with Shikhar Dhawan (54 not out, 114 minutes, 100 balls, 7x4s) to see Delhi home as the match ended with a day to spare.
Uttar Pradesh lost the remaining four wickets Saturday morning for just 23 runs as Sangwan produced a spell of 5-3-5-3 to take his team close to victory.