Delhi gifted spot in last eight

Punit Bishts unbeaten ton saves visitors the blushes but result irrelevant after Baroda fail to take bonus point.

They went into third days play needing some sound batting to avoid a follow-on against Bengal. Having slogged it out on an unresponsive wicket throughout the day,Delhi have got well within sight,and need 25 more runs to make the hosts bat again,with three wickets remaining.

They can go for the remaining runs without any nerves though,as events far away in Pune where Baroda missed their chance to get a bonus point against Maharashtra ensured that the visitors are through to the knock-out round irrespective of the result here on Friday.

After two tiring days of fielding at the Jadavpur University ground,it was Delhis turn in their Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match to claw their way back. And they did it painstakingly,riding on stumper Punit Bishts hard-earned century and opener Mithun Manhass gritty 88. Delhi were 348 for 7 at stumps in response to Bengals first-innings score of 522,with Bisht unbeaten on 103 and Ishant Sharma on 16. The duo put on 38 for the eighth-wicket.

Coming in at No 7 after Manhas batted out the morning cautiously,Bisht dropped anchor in the latter half of the day and ensured that the Bengal spinners didnt make too many inroads on a track that offered neither turn nor much bounce.

Aditya Jain scored a steady 56 early on and Gaurav Chhabra chipped in with a dour 38. Ranadeb Bose (3/79) and left-arm spinner Iresh Saxena (2/58) took most of the wickets,but no Bengal bowler threatened too much.

With the track not doing anything,there isnt hope for much action on the last day either. Even if Bengal manage to enforce the follow-on after a few quick wickets early on Friday morning,Delhi look able to bat out the rest of the day to go back with a point.

The match is now only of academic interest. With 15 points already in their kitty,Delhi are expected to finish their league campaign third,behind Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka,with 16 points. Bengal too dont have much to play for,having already missed out on the knock-out berth but staying clear of the relegation zone,ahead of Saurashtra and Maharashtra.