New Delhi: Delhi hardly missed the services of star bowler Parwinder Awana who is away fulfilling his international duty as their bowling led by young Sumit Narwal ran through Maharastra batting unit to bowl them out for 196 on day 1 of its Ranji Trophy Group B match here at the Roshanara Club Ground on Saturday.
Delhi opting to field first under the overcast conditions and used the seamer friendly pitch to the optimum. It was the first change bowler Narwal did the trick for the and provided the first breakthrough when he bowled out opener Virag Awate in the sixth over. He then dismissed Sangram Atitkar in the same over to put Delhi on top.
Two more wickets and the visitors were down four wickets for 37. It was then some resolute batting from Ankit Bawne (58, 128b, 213m, 6x4) that rescued Maharashtra from the spot of bother. He added 38 runs with Kedar Jadhav (16) for the fifth wicket and then stitched a 64-run stand with Shrikant Mundhe (42, 73b, 86m, 7x4) for the seventh wicket.
For Delhi, Sumit Narwal was the pick of the bowlers with his figures of 3-35, while Pradip Sangwan and Sumit Suyal with two wickets apiece.
The hosts in reply started off well but the two quick wickets by Samad Fallah pegged them back. Fallah first rattled Unmukt Chand’s stump and then in his next over knocked out Mohit Sharma’s woodwork.
Skipper Shikhar Dhawan was the last Delhi batsman to fall after he ran himself out while attempting a suicidal run.
Delh ended the day on 60-3 and they will again depend on the veteran Mithun Manhas batting on 12 to rescue them.
By Indian Sports News Network