Delhi pick first Ranji points

Delhi earned two points -- their first of the season -- by virtue of a 162-run first innings lead as their Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match against Maharashtra ended in a draw in Delhi on Monday.

At stumps on the final day, Maharashtra were 249 for 7, with Hrikesh Kanitkar remaining unbeaten on 73 (7x4,288 minutes).

Maharashtra had scored 208 in their first essay and in reply Delhi declared their innings at 370 for 9.

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Delhi looked like pulling off a sensational win when they had Maharashtra reeling at 104 for 4, but the middle and lower order batsmen dashed their hopes as they gave good support to Kanitkar, who batted with utmost concentration and confidence.

Resuming at their overnight score of 17 for no loss, the visitors lost their first wicket at 72 when C.Nanda clean bowled Dhiraj Jadhav, who made 45 (4x4,159m). The visitors then lost three more wickets in the space of 14 runs to be 104 for 4. Three of the four wickets had gone to Nanda.

However, a 67-run fifth wicket stand between Kanitkar and D Mohan stablised the Gujarat innings as they, in the process, consumed 19 overs. Mohan made 39 (5x4,86 minutes) before he was trapped leg before by Akash Chopra.

Then a resolute 51-run eighth wicket unbeaten partnership between Kanitkar and M.Patel saw Delhi's hopes of an outright victory dashed.

Patel scored 30 runs, inclusive of four boundaries, in 48 minutes.

Delhi, before this match, had one draw, in which they conceded the first innings lead, and lost one.

Scoreboard:

Maharashtra(1st innings): 208 all out

Delhi (1st innings): 370 for 9 decl.

Maharashtra (2nd innings):
M.Nigde c Varun Kumar b M.Deewan 35
D.Jadhav b C.Nanda 45
H.Kanitkar not out 73
A. Kale c Dhawan b C.Nanda 4
S. Bahutule lbw b C.Nanda 0
D Mohan lbw b A.Chopra 39
K Aphale c Varun Kumar b A.Bhandari 7
S Satbhai b Kunal Lal 0
M Patel not out 30.
Extras: (b 4, lb 4, nb 8) 16
Total: (for seven wickets, 104 overs, 449 mins) 249

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-90, 3-104, 4-104, 5-171, 6-190, 7-198.

Bowling: A.Bhandari 22-2-77-1, Kunal Lal 20-8-43-1, M.Deewan 10-1-27-1, C.Nanda 27-12-46-3, M.Manhas 2-1-1-0, R.Bhatia 15-8-16-0, A.Chopra 7-0-31-1, S.Dhawan 1-1-0-0.