Mumbai-Delhi tie ends in tame draw

The opening round match between Mumbai and Delhi, in the Elite Group 'A' of the Ranji Trophy, ended in a tame draw as Mumbai chose to have some batting practice even after taking a healthy first innings lead of 220 runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi on Saturday.

It was dull cricket for most part of the day as Delhi were all out for 331 runs in their first innings, just before lunch.

Later, Mumbai, who were ensured two points on the basis of the first innings lead, did not force the follow-on and batted in the second innings. They were 166 for 3 at close.

The last hopes for Delhi to avoid a follow-on wilted early as top-scorer for their side and overnight batsman Mithun Manhas got out early at his individual score of 87 (off 190 balls including 13 fours), at the team total of 259. He was caught behind off Usman Maulvi.

But Mumbai faced more resistance from tail-enders Sarandeep Singh and Chetan Nanda, who put on 69 runs for the eighth wicket. Sarandeep made a fine 46 off 80 balls, studded with nine boundaries. Nanda lent him support with a useful 22 off 73 balls, inclusive of four hits to the fence.

Powar claimed his fifth wicket by getting rid of Sarandeep, caught behind at 328.

The Mumbai offie returned with figures of six for 83 as Delhi were all out soon after.

Half-centuries by Onkar Khanvilkar (71) and Vinit Indulkar (55) were the highlights of the Mumbai second innings as the match dragged on towards the close.

Scorecard

Mumbai (1st innings): 551 all out

Delhi (1st innings):
A Chopra st Samant b Powar 33
Varun Kumar c Jaffer b Powar 19
R Gupta c Muzumdar b Powar 3
M Minhas c Samant b Maulvi 87
R Bhatia b Powar 13
P Chawla c Indulkar b Usman Maulvi 48
A Bali lbw b Kulkarni 14
Sarandeep Singh c Samant b Powar 46
C Nanda lbw b Kulkarni 22
Kunal Lall not out 2
A Bhandari c Mane b Powar 1
Extras: (b-7, lb-7, w-6, nb-23) 43
Total: (all out in 130.2 overs) 331

Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-76, 3-77, 4-113, 5-224, 6-241, 7-259, 8-328, 9-330.

Bowling: Avishkar Salvi 33- 6-81-0, Usman Maulvi 32-7-85-2, Ramesh Powar 35.2-15-83-6, Nishit Shetty 1-1-0-0, Nilesh Kulkarni 22-9-34-2, Onkar Khanvilkar 5-0-17-0, Amol Muzumdar 1-0-2-0, Wasim Jaffer 1-0-15-0.

Mumbai (2nd innings):
V Mane c sub (Aditya Jain) b Bhandari 5
O Khanvilkar c Bhandari b Chopra 71
V Indulkar not out 55
V Samant b Chopra 8
U Maulvi not out 5
Extras: (b-6, lb-3, nb-13) 22
Total: (for 3 wickets in 49 overs) 166

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-134, 3-159.

Bowling: Amit Bhandari 12-2-47-1, Kunal Lall 13-6-23-0, Sarandeep Singh 13-0-57-0, Chetan Nanda 8-1-25-0, Aakash Chopra 3-0-5-2.