There was a contest at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Wednesday, but not between Delhi and Mumbai. Parvinder Awana, drafted into the Delhi XI for the last two games, was waiting for a verdict from the team trainer. “Am I bowling quicker than (Pradeep) Sangwan? We have a bet going,” he asked.

It were these little games that kept the interest up on an extremely one-sided day until the Mumbai-Delhi match reached its logical conclusion 18 minutes after tea.

In two sessions since play started on Wednesday, Mumbai scored at more than four an over and raced to 468 for four in 114 overs before declaring, as the teams agreed to call off the game. Visiting skipper Wasim Jaffer failed in his own target — he had said he would love to bat the entire day, but was cleaned up two short of his century in the first session — but he would have been mighty pleased with the three points his team picked up for the first innings lead as well as the bruised egos they left behind.

Power-packed Kukreja

With no pressure of forcing a result, Jaffer’s opening partner Sahil Kukreja allowed his natural instincts to take over. The 23-year-old had spent an entire year waiting for a big one after being dismissed at 199 against the same side at Wankhede last season. Today, there was no letting up as the right-hander slammed his maiden double-hundred and career-best innings in a dominant display of off-side strength, hammering an unbeaten 229.

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