Dhawan's fighting century gives Delhi an outside chance to win

New Delhi, Nov 12 : With barely 149 runs ahead and only one second-innings wicket to fall, Delhi can only win if Karnataka collapse dramatically on the fourth and last day of their Ranji Trophy Super League match here Friday.

Delhi stuttered to 255 for nine in their second innings despite Shikhar Dhawan's fighting century on the penultimate day at the Roshanara Ground Thursday.

Delhi, who fought back Wednesday after dismissing Karnataka for 260 in the first innings to concede a 106-run first innings lead, lost their way once the visitors separated the overnight Dhawan (100) and Rajat Bhatia (64), who added 135-runs for the third wicket.

Last pair of Parwinder Awana and Pawan Suyal was at the crease when poor light interrupted the day's play for a third time to bring an early stumps. In all, 108 minutes of play was lost due to poor light and only 54 overs were bowled during the day.

Bhatia's dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse and when Dhawan became the sixth man to go, run-out, Delhi looked to have surrendered the advantage.

Dhawan, though, was optimistic that all is not lost, considering the way the wicket has favoured the bowlers.

"The last pair is still there. If they can knock some runs, you never know. We are still in with a chance. We can take advantage of a favourable wicket in overcast conditions."

S. Arvind was the pick of the Karnataka bowler with a four for 39 runs while R. Vinay Kumar, who took a career-best eight wickets in the first innings, finished with three for 58.

Much depended on Dhawan and Bhatia after the hosts lost two quick wickets Tuesday and the two saw off the crucial morning session with relative ease as the pitch unlike the first two days offered little help to the bowlers.

"As compared to the first two days, the wicket was easy to bat on today," Dhawan admitted.

Dhawan's 17th Ranji trophy century stood out and the Delhi vice-captain, with Bhatia, frustrated the Karnataka bowlers. The pair added 83 more to their overnight partnerhip of 52 before Arvind knocked off Bhatia's bails. Bhatia's 156-ball innings had nine fours.

Mayank Tehlan, who came next, became Arvind's third wicket and second of the day 20 minutes after lunch. He failed to open his account after 17 deliveries and was trapped leg before. Arvind struck again two balls later when he bowled Yogesh Nagar, leaving Delhi tottering at 184 for six.

Dhawan was run out six balls later when he attempted to steal a single that was not there and was beaten by K.B.Pawan's throw from the square leg.

Abhishek Sharma (34) and wicket-keeper Puneet Bisht (14) lent some stability with their seventh-wicket stand of 43-runs, but the second new ball undid their good work.

Bisht edged a catch to Dravid at first slip off Vinay while Sharma was caught behind off Abhimanyu Mithun (1-96).

Vinay then got his third wicket as he had Sumit Narwal (14) caught in his follow through.

--IANS