A fine display of controlled bowling from a young Delhi attack helped the visitor gain the first innings lead on day three of its Ranji Trophy Super League Group ‘A' match against Tamil Nadu here on Friday. Delhi's batsmen then extended the lead to 232 by close of play, losing only two second innings wickets in the process.
A day after seeing his name missing from BCCI's list of centrally contracted players, S. Badrinath ground out his 23rd first class century, even as Tamil Nadu fell 110 short of Delhi's 318. Badrinath's 104 (273b, 6x4, 2x6) showcased the determination and technique that made him a domestic run machine.
Badrinath was at the crease for over six hours, but never got on top of Delhi's bowling, and struggled to time the ball even after crossing 80. He tried to knock offie Manoj Chauhan off his line just before lunch, stepping out and heaving him over midwicket and driving him inside-out, but it was an aberrant spurt of aggression in a marathon graft.
Left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra, all of 17, wasn't cut or pulled once in his 38 overs. He troubled C. Ganapathy with turn from around the wicket, and had a stumping shout ruled out by the third umpire when he beat Badrinath with one dangled outside off from over the wicket.
The overnight batsmen extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 89 before Ganapathy was run out by Chauhan's direct hit from mid on. Tamil Nadu's last four wickets fell for 32 runs before Badrinath was last out, bowled by 21-year-old left-arm seamer Pawan Suyal.
Tamil Nadu's spinners came on after just two overs of seam, and plugged away at Delhi's left-handed openers to try and force a collapse. Shikhar Dhawan ensured the futility of their quest and raced to 76 (113b, 10x4) by close of play. R. Ashwin's efforts yielded two wickets, Chetan Sharma bowled playing for non-existent turn, Yogesh Nagar caught at leg slip.
The scores:
Delhi — 1st innings: 318.
Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: A. Mukund c & b Suyal 2, S. Anirudha c C. Sharma b Mishra 28, K.B. Arun Karthik c Bisht b Awana 18, S. Badrinath b Suyal 104, D. Karthik c sub (Tehlan) b Mishra 6, R. Sathish b Mishra 2, C. Ganapathy (run out) 23, R. Ashwin c Dhawan b Chauhan 3, M. Prabhu lbw b Mishra 3, R. Aushik Srinivas c Bisht b Suyal 4, S. Sam (not out) 1, Extras (b-7, lb-3, nb-4): 14; Total (in 100.2 overs): 208.
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-48, 3-50, 4-60, 5-82, 6-171, 7-177, 8-192, 9-203.
Delhi bowling: Awana 14-3-34-1, Suyal 18.2-7-37-3, Mishra 38-11-50-4, Kohli 1-0-3-0, Chauhan 22-5-63-1, Nagar 3-1-7-0, Manhas 4-2-4-0.
Delhi — 2{+n}{+d} innings: C. Sharma b Ashwin 22, S. Dhawan (batting) 76, Y. Nagar c Badrinath b Ashwin 23, M. Chauhan (batting) 0, Extras (b-1): 1; Total (for two wkts. in 41 overs): 122.
Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-105.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Ganapathy 6-0-27-0, Sam 1-0-2-0, Aushik 9-1-30-0.
