New Delhi, Jan 13: Unmukt Chand’s (117, 256b, 12×4, 3×6) brilliant century helped Delhi to a position of comfort before Orissa hit back with a couple of late wickets in the Group B Ranji Trophy tie here at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground, Tuesday. Electing to bat after winning the toss Delhi were 248 for the loss of five wickets at stumps.
Five Orissa bowlers shared the wickets to fall, but the pick of the lot was definitely, the experienced Basant Mohanty (1/34 in 16). He bowled a tight line and length and never allowed the Delhi batters any freedom. Only Lagnajit Samal went wicket-less in his 14-over spell.
Chand and skipper Gautam Gambhir started proceedings for Delhi against Basant and Deepak Behera (1/35). Gambhir (13) was the first to depart leg before to Basant. Virender Sehwag (39, 44b, 7×4) looked in ominous touch as he put on 70 runs for the second wicket with Chand, but then Biplab Samantray (1/19) struck to remove him.
Delhi were then well served by the third wicket partnership between Mithun Manhas (55 batting, 152b, 4×4, 1×6) and Chand. Both survived a few anxious moments but were prompt to punish the loose delivery. Chand fell when he tried to cut part-time spinner Govind Poddar (1/24) with the ball being too close to his body to essay the shot. Delhi were the 216 for three.
Orissa however hit back before close removing Mannan Sharma (14) and the dangerous Rajat Bhatia (0). Sharma fell leg before to Dhiraj Singh (1/64) while Bhatia was caught behind off Deepak (1/35).
Brief scores: Delhi 248 for 5 (Unmukt Chand 117, Mithun Manhas 55 batting) versus Orissa. Match to continue.
Other Matches brief scores
(At Nagpur) Vidarbha 1st innings 352/3 (Ganesh Satish 167, Faiz Fazal 107, S Badrinath 62 batting) versus Saurashtra. Match to continue.
(At Pune) Rajasthan 1st innings 249/7 (Puneet Yadav 113 batting, Aristh Singhvi 43) versus Maharashtra. Match to continue.
(At Ahmedabad) Gujarat 284/4 (PK Panchal 85, Y Venugopal Rao batting 75) versus Punjab. Match to continue
PTI
