Mumbai take lead over Delhi

Opener Wasim Jaffer's timely ton and Ajit Agarkar's sparkling 69 gave Mumbai a good lead of 179 runs over Delhi on the second day of the elite Ranji group match in Mumbai at the Wankhede stadium on Monday.

Delhi made a very cautious second innings start making 52 for no loss off 28 overs after Mumbai had put up 302 in reply to the visitors first innings score of 123.

Delhi were in a sound postion in the morning when Arun Singh bowled accurately to claim four for 51. The most telling blows were, however, struck by Abhishek Sharma. He struck twice in quick succession removing Nilesh Patwardhan (0) and clean bowling Sairaj Bahutule (4).

The wickets left Mumbai struggling at 129 for five but Agarkar followed up his five-wicket haul with 69 off 84 balls, including three sixes and nine fours and shared a century partnership with Jaffer.

Jaffer's knock was filled with strokes all round the wickets as he took the Delhi attack to the cleaners. The Mumbai opener was in supreme touch, driving immaculately on the up and dispatching the short ball. He batted for 248 balls and hit 13 boundaries.

Jaffer was castled by Amit Bhandari while Rahul Sanghvi scalped Agarkar and the Mumbai lead had not reached massive proportions as yet. However, Paras Mhambrey (26), Ramesh Powar (17) and Rajesh Pawar (17) came up with useful knocks down the order to put the hosts in command.

After the disastrous first innings, Delhi tread carefully and were 52 for no loss at the end of the second day's play with Gautam Gambhir (17) and Akash Chopra (33) at crease.

Tamil Nadu reach 115 for two

Replying to Baroda's first innings score of 381, Tamil Nadu were comfortably placed at 115 for two on the second day of their four day Elite B Group Ranji Trophy match at Chennai at the Guru Nanak College grounds.

After the hosts lost captain and opener S Suresh to the very second ball of the innings, former Test player Sadagopan Ramesh and left-hander S Sriram steadied the innings putting on 97 runs for the second wicket in 31.2 overs.

Ramesh was caught behind by Nayan Mongia off Ajit Bhoite for 45, which included four fours.

At close, Sriram was on 66 with nine fours with M R Srinivas, who was batting on three.

Earlier, former champions Baroda resumed at their overnight 237 for six and added 144 runs before being all out.

M S K Prasad's unbeaten 91 puts Andhra on top

Skipper M S K Prasad led from the front scoring an unbeaten 91 to place Andhra at a comfortable 274 for 5 in reply to Hyderabad's first innings score of 353 on the second day of the Ranji Trophy match at Gymkhana grounds in Hyderabad.

The Andhra innings began on a disastrous note with Hemal Vatekar(3) making an early exit giving N P Singh his first wicket. Veteran Amit Pathak and I Srinivas steadied the innings with a gritty partnership adding 95 runs for second wicket.

Pathak compiled a cautious 51 off 100 balls with 10 fours before spinner Shivaji Yadav, who also claimed the wicket of I Srinivas after his patient 41 in 177, dismissed him.

M S K Prasad joined an in-form Y Venugopal and the two added 133 runs for the fourth wicket before N P Singh bowled Venugopal on 59, which included one six and six fours off the 139 balls he faced.

Prasad negotiated the Hyderabad bowlers with ease, picked runs from the numerous gaps and struck 15 fours during his 185 minute stay at the wicket to script an unfinished essay of 91 runs in 185 balls.

Andhra are trailing by 79 runs.

For Hyderabad, speedster N P Singh claimed three for 58 runs while spinner Shivaji Yadav took two for 69.

Mail Cricket Editor