It was a day punctuated by frequent interruptions due to poor light and the Delhi batsmen’s tendency to be spectacular and suicidal. The hosts ended a curtailed third day at 255 for 9 in their second innings, inching 149 runs ahead in their Ranji Trophy clash against Karnataka at the Roshanara ground. Parvinder Awana and Pawan Suyal were at the crease, both yet to open their account.

If Delhi are to draw the game and take a point, they will need to now hope for some more poor weather, while Karnataka, who took the first innings lead, will be chasing an outright victory from the outset.

A total of 108 minutes and 36 overs of play was lost to bad light on a day that started with Shikhar Dhawan and Rajat Bhatia putting their heads down and stretching their partnership to 135. They tackled the early morning haze with immense concentration. Dhawan was the first to reach his 50 from 91 balls with eight boundaries, while Bhatia showcased a series of square-drives to get to the landmark.

Bhatia, however, fell at a crucial time, distracted perhaps by the failing light and the inevitable stoppage. The umpires had negated the batting pair’s appeal for bad light, but brought out the light meters one over later. In between though, Bhatia had been done in by an Aravind delivery from round the wicket, which nipped back sharply to disturb his stumps.

Stunning shots

With a series of cover-drives and stunning square-cuts, Dhawan reached his seventh Ranji Trophy century after an early break for lunch, and having survived a chance on 97 when Balachandra Akhil put down a sitter at second slip.

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