Rohit Sharma helps Mumbai choke Delhi in Ranji

Rohit Sharma stroked a fluent century as Mumbai strengthened their grip on the third day and sank Delhi's hopes of an outright win in the Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Roshanara Club here yesterday.


Rohit Sharma

Only a miracle can now save Delhi, who need a victory to stay afloat in the tournament and move to the knock-out stage. Resuming at 74 for two, Mumbai batsmen continued to show their might over the Delhi seamers, and with the pitch not seaming like the first two days, the visitors went to amass 413 runs this day.

At stumps, Mumbai were 487 for eight, with an overall lead of 553. Iqbal Abdullah, who triggered Delhi's collapse with a five-wicket haul Thursday, was batting at a brisk 73 and Moondeep Mangela 26.

Delhi got the early initiative in the morning when Sumit Narwal (3-84) and Pawan Suyal (1-76) sent two Mumbai batsmen within the first hour, both dismissed leg before wicket. Narwal got first innings' top scorer and debutant Surya Kumar Yadav for 7 and Suyal fanned Delhi's hopes by trapping skipper Wasim Jaffer within five overs.

But a 191-run sixth-wicket stand between Sharma (148, 154b, 15x4, 4x6) and Prashant Naik (81, 159b, 11x4) stole the thunder of the Delhi seamers. The two batted with ease on the straightened out strip and made the hosts toil hard with little rewards.

The day belonged to Rohit who cut, drove and pulled with ease during his 233 minute stay with Naik playing the role of second foil to perfection. To his credit, Naik managed to hold his own despite Rohit's class. Rohit scored briskly and reached his hundred in 97 balls with the help of 12 fours.

The Deccan Chargers batsmen, infact looked poised for a double hundred but edged Pradeep Sangwan to Shikhar Dhawan at the first slip at the stroke of tea. Naik followed soon after when Sangwan's delivery came in to disturb the bails.

Delhi's misery was far from over as left-arm spinner Abdullah raced to a breezy half-century in 28 balls with 10 fours. By the evening, the Delhi's attack had not much to offer, their bowlers were a dispirited lot as they walked their way to the dressing room.