Dravid defies Delhi to give Karnataka first-innings lead

New Delhi, Nov 11: Rahul Dravid struck a classy 78 even as Delhi fought their way back to restrict Karnataka first innings to 260 on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Roshanara club ground here Wednesday.

After whittling Karnataka's lead to 106 runs, Delhi quickly erased 93 of these for the loss of two wickets in the second knock. Vice-captain Shikhar Dhawan was batting 43, cracking seven fours in 80 balls, and Rajat Bhatia was 28 off 68 balls, when bad light ended play eight overs short on the second day.

However, much will depend on how Delhi batsmen cope with the bowler-friendly conditions when play resumes Thursday as the pitch in the first session continues to play tricks.

Delhi were bundled out for 154 in the first innings on the opening day, but the hosts exploited conditions on the second morning to force their way back into the match.

Sumit Narwal (4-71) and debutant Pawan Suyal (4-67) made batting a difficult proposition. Third seamer Parwinder Awana grabbed the prized wicket of stand-in-skipper Dravid, caught behind by Puneet Bisht, driving at an away delivery.

The former India captain was fluent in his strokemaking, smashing 11 fours during his 122-ball, 184-minute innings.

Dravid and K. B. Pawan (47) carried their overnight 71-run third-wicket partnership to 87 before the latter edged a Narwal delivery to Bisht.

Manish Pandey, fresh from his 194 against Uttar Pradesh, opened his score with a boundary, but his 10-ball innings ended when he was ruled leg before to Narwal, but the ball was still rising when it struck the pad.

Wicket-keeper Tilak Naidu soon followed, leaving visitors reeling at 135 for five. But just when Delhi looked to be clawing their way back, B. Akhil (37) dug his heels to add 31 runs with Dravid for the sixth wicket.

Then the last pair, Abhimanyu Mithun (39 not out) and S. Arvind (15), further prolonged Delhi's misery with a 47-run 64-ball stand.