Needing an outright win to stay in the hunt, Delhi rolled out a ‘green carpet’ at the Ferozeshah Kotla for the Orissa team. By the end of a manic Day One of the Ranji Trophy Elite Division match on Saturday that saw 24 wickets fell, it seemed it was the visitors who had pulled the rug from under the hosts’ feet.

Put in to bat by Shib Sundar Das, the holders were skittled out for a paltry 78 before Ishant Sharma — 7/24 in 8.3 overs — bowled an inspired spell to limit the lead to just two runs. At stumps, Delhi were 38 for four in their second essay with skipper Virender Sehwag (27) holding the fort, and relegation more than the title defence must be on their minds.

On the face of it, preparing a green wicket was a reasonable gamble. Star batsmen Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli lent strength to their batting, and the team think-tank was counting on Ishant’s blistery pace for net gains. But as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.

Gambhir was out for a duck, starting what turned out to be a procession. As if allergic to the grass, the famed Delhi batting line-up lacked both the technique and the intent and the hosts’ first innings was over 24 minutes before lunch.

Luckily for them, Orissa didn’t digress from the script. Ishant breathed fire, castling five of his seven victims. Delhi picked up from where they had left off in the first innings and Gambhir completed a pair. Aakash Chopra, Kohli and Mithun Manhas followed soon and Delhi, just 36 runs ahead, were staring down the barrel.