RANJI TROPHY
GROUP D
Mumbai, Jan 31: Delhi rode on half-centuries from Vaibhav Kandpal (61) and Ayush Doseja (62 not out) after Divij Mehra’s five-for to stage a fightback and take an overall lead of 110 runs against Mumbai, on Day Three of their Ranji Trophy Group D clash here on Saturday.
Kandpal and Doseja kept Mumbai at bay with a 106-run stand but Himanshu Singh (2/23) struck late in the day to break the stubborn stand, with Delhi finishing at 206 for four when play was called off.Onkar Tarmale took a sharp one-handed grab diving to his right at backward square leg when Kandpal mishit one high in the air.Earlier, the 23-year-old Mehra secured his second five-wicket haul against Mumbai in Ranji Trophy, returning 31-8-64-5 to help his side make a strong comeback.“I was injured after that five-for against Mumbai (in 2022-23) so it felt very good to have contributed,” said an emotional Mehra, who spent time on the sidelines due to a spur in heel of his landing foot.
He also gave credit to veteran India pacer Ishant Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for pointing out the areas that he needed to work on.“They both (Pant and Ishant) have spoken with me in details and told me that whatever I am doing is not enough in white-ball cricket. There are a lot of areas to work upon.” “Ishant bhaiya told me sternly after one match: ‘Dekh bhai itne se nahi chalega (this isn’t enough). He made me realise things which I was not able to by myself. He has told me about the kind of training I have to go through and what should be my schedule be like as a fast bowler.“Rishabh bhaiya said that I bowl in right areas but I will have to work on my pace and variation,” Mehra added.Following Siddhesh Lad’s (103) dismissal in the third over of the day, Mehra removed Suved Parkar (58) in the next to put the pressure back on Mumbai who had resumed with a lead of 45 runs.Mumbai eventually finished with an overall lead of 96 runs courtesy a handy 34 from Shams Mulani.Sanat Sangwan (24) and Rahul Dagar (19) kept Mumbai at bay in initial exchanges.But in the 12th over, Tushar Deshpande, who had troubled Dagar with some sharp in-swing. (PTI)
