Forgotten lessons

The 18-year-old Nagar was composed, defending balls without leaving an inch between bat and pad, and stepping out fearlessly to anything tossed up. Together, Chabbra and Nagar taught the experienced players on the sidelines forgotten lessons of concentration, will and determination.

It’s premature to suggest that they have solved Delhi’s problems for the future — or even finished the job in the match at hand. Their batting, and their 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket, hasn’t bailed the team out from the crisis, but it’s at least saved the defending Ranji champs some embarrassment.

The Delhi innings started poorly. Shikhar Dhawan was back in the hut without scoring after opening alongside Punit Bisht, captain Aakash Chopra being kept out by a stomach bug. The skipper came in at number three, only six minutes later than usual, and looked good before Makda had him caught behind, cleverly getting one to move away after two consecutive inswingers.

Chopra’s departure meant Delhi had lost all their experienced batsmen. Bisht had already been dismissed, top-edging a pull, and Manhas had slashed outside off to be caught at second slip.

The Gujarat seam trio of Trivedi, Makda and debutant Ishwar Chaudhary bowled a disciplined line, just outside off. Spinner Parmar had Delhi in spot of bother immediately on his introduction, crowding the batsmen with four close-in fielders and getting the ball to spin from the rough.

Earlier in the morning, Delhi’s trend of dropping catches and their slackness in the field had continued. Dhawan was again the culprit, dropping Trivedi at slip before he was relegated to the covers as the usually cool Chopra shouted repeatedly at his erring fielders. Overnight batsman Bhavik Thaker found enough time to raise his bat once more, before becoming the last man out for 151.