Delhi's batting woes continued. This time it was a left-arm spinner who left the home team wounded on a seamer-friendly pitch with a five-wicket haul.
Iqbal Abdullah was in his element as Mumbai called the shots on the second day of the Ranji Trophy superleague, finishing at 74 for two for an overall lead of 140 runs.
Delhi lacked the character to fight. The batsmen chose to indulge in some expansive strokeplay and came to grief against a team that was committed to its task. Mumbai concentrated on making Delhi earn every run after it resumed the day at 47 for two. The home team fell 66 runs short of the first innings total that Mumbai had managed in demanding conditions.
Much was expected from Shikhar Dhawan, 25 overnight, but he failed to temper his impetuous streak at the crease, falling to a slash. His dismissal brought Mayank Tehlan to the middle and with it some hope as he middled the ball and garnered runs with confidence.
Skipper Mithun Manhas did his best to play the motivator with distinction. He was ill, throwing up repeatedly and batting with a runner, but his spirit failed to resuscitate Delhi.
Having batted with conviction, Manhas (110 balls and 12 fours) played on and then Tehlan drove in the air. This was in keeping with Delhi's suicidal tendencies in this contest.
Tehlan's wicket triggered a collapse as Delhi lost its last six wickets for 61 runs with Abdullah rewarded for his perseverance.
The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: 267.
Delhi — 1st innings: Unmukt Chand c Onkar b Agarkar 11, Shikhar Dhawan c R. Sharma b Mangela 32, Virat Kohli b Agarkar 5, Mithun Manhas b Salvi 66, Mayank Tehlan c Waghella b Abdullah 29, Rajat Bhatia v P. Naik b Abdullah 8, Puneet Bisht c and b Abdullah 12, Sumit Narwal a A. Salvi b Abdullah 4, Pradeep Sangwan c Kukreja b Abdullah 6, Parwinder Awana c and b Salvi 16, Pawan Suyal (not out) 0; Extras (lb-8, nb-2, w-2): 12; Total (in 69.4 overs): 201.
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-28, 3-73, 4-150, 5-152, 6-166, 7-177, 8-178, 9-183.
Mumbai bowling: Ajit Agarkar 17-4-54-2, Avishkar Salvi 21.4-6-53-2, Moondeep Mangela 14-2-61-1, Iqbal Abdullah 17-6-25-5.
Mumbai — 2nd innings: Sahil Kukreja (batting) 25, Onkar Gurav c P. Bisht b Sangwan 30, Praful Waghela c P. Bisht b Narwal 5; S.A. Yadav (batting) 3; Extras (lb-8, nb-2, w-1): 11; Total (for two wkts in 31 overs): 74.
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-69.
Delhi bowling: Narwal 12-1-28-1, Awana 7-4-9-0, Suyal 4-2-12-0, Sangwan 8-2-17-1.
