Delhi tighten noose around Rajasthan

Virat Kohli slammed 106 as Delhi batsmen made amends for their first innings flop-show to stretch their lead against Rajasthan to a massive 351 runs with six more wickets in hand on day two of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group A match in New Delhi on Monday.

Stand in captain Mithun Manhas (86) and Rajat Bhatia (65) were at the crease when stumps were drawn with Delhi's second innings score reading 317 for four in 90.3 overs, marked improvement from their first innings total of 119.

The same Delhi batsmen who had been skittled out for a paltry total  of 119 in the first innings, decided to complement the effort by their bowling colleagues who bundled out the vistors for a mere 85 runs in their first essay that not only brought Delhi back into the match but also handed them a gilt-edged chance to attack Rajasthan. And they did it today in fine fashion.

Despite losing Shikhar Dhawan (14) and Puneet Bisht (0) in quick succession -- Pankaj Singh being their peril-plotter -- Aakash Chopra (32) and Kohli saw off the early danger with a 78-run stand.

Even after Chopra departed, Kohli thrived in the calming presence of Manhas to feature in a 92-run stand before a Shailender Gehlot delivery got the better of his defence. By then, Kohli had scored 106 off 192 balls with the help of 18 boundaries.

Manhas remained not out on 86 that came off 148 balls and included 10 fours while Bhatia, having made 65 of 93 balls hitting 12 boundaries in the process, too would be eyeing a ton when he resume on Tuesday.

Scorecard

Delhi 1st innings 119 all out

Rajasthan 1st innings 85 all out

Delhi 2nd innings: (Overnight 6 for 0)
A Chopra lbw b Mathur 32
S Dhawan c Shafiq Khan b Pankaj Singh 14
P Bisht c Jhalani b Pankaj Singh 0
V Kohli b Gehlot 106
M Manhas batting 86
R Bhatia batting 65

Extras (LB-5, W-1, NB-8) 14

Total (For 4 wickets in 90.3 overs) 317

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-24, 3-102, 4-194.

Bowling: Pankaj Singh 23-7-84-2; SG Gehlot 21-4-77-1; M Aslam 15-1-65-0; S Mathur 18.3-7-43-1; RJ Kanwat 10-0-34-0; GK Khoda 3-0-9-0.