Chennai: Shikhar Dhawan struck an unbeaten 76 as Delhi scored 122 for two in their second innings at close against Tamil Nadu on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group A match.
Having already secured three vital points by virtue of their first innings lead of 110 runs after dismissing Tamil Nadu for 208 all out, Delhi were in the driver`s seat when stumps were drawn.
Dhawan, who anchored the Delhi innings, was batting on 76 (113b, 172m, 10X4) along with Manoj Chauhan who is yet to open his account.
The visitors have taken an overall lead of 232 and would be eyeing an outright win tomorrow.
Delhi opener Chetan Sharma (22) was in his elements in their second essay but was bowled to a low delivery from off spinner Ashwin. He added 46 runs with his opening partner Dhawan in 14.1 overs.Yogesh Nahar, sent ahead of Virat Kohli, was shaping well in company of Dhawan but made his exit offering an edge to S Badrinath in leg slip while trying to defend an Ashwin delivery. He made 23 with three hits to the fence and added 59 runs in 26.3 overs for the second wicket.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu (overnight 122 for 5) could only add 86 before being bowled out. Badrinath (104; 6x4 2x6) saved the side from landing in a much worse situation scoring 59 runs before being bowled by pacer Pawan Suyal, who claimed three wickets by conceding 37 runs.
Badrinath and other overnight batsman C Ganapathy were coasting to a sizeable stand but the latter was ran out by a direct hit from Manoj Chauhan from the mid-on region.Chauhan also dismissed R Ashwin (3) caught at square leg by Dhawan. Prabhu (3) was adjudged LBW off leg spinner Vikas Mishra and Aushik Srinivas (4) edged to wicketkeeper Puneet Bisht off Suyal. Mishra was the chief wickettaker ending with an analysis of 38-11-50-4.
Brief Scroes: Delhi 318 and 122 for 2 in 41 overs (Chetan Sharma 22, Shikhar Dhawan batting 76, Yogesh Nagar 23; R Ashwin 2 for 39) and Tamil Nadu (first innings) 208 all out (S.Anirudha 28, S Badrinath 104, C Ganapathy 23, Puneet Suyal 3 for 37 and Vikas Mishra 4 for 50).
PTI
First Published: Friday, November 12, 2010, 21:14