NEW DELHI: There were no surprises in store on the final day of the Elite Super League group ‘A’ match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground. Mumbai expectedly kept batting after having taken the all-important first innings lead against Delhi on the third day itself.
Opener Sahil Kukreja notched up an unbeaten 229 while his partner Wasim Jaffer missed a century (98) as Delhi put up a listless display in the field with part-time bowlers going through the paces. Mumbai were 468 for four in their second innings when play was called off 18 minutes after tea.
Kukreja hit 31 boundaries during his 315-ball knock. After adding 178 runs off 258 balls with overnight partner Jaffer, he was associated in a 147-run stand for the second wicket with first innings centurion Ajinkya Rahane (78) and then an unbroken partnership of 118 with Vinayak Samant (53 not out).
With the points firmly in their kitty, there was no need for a declaration and unnecessary exertion for their bowlers.
Delhi’s part-time leg-spinner Aditya Jain sent down 22 of the 114 overs in Mumbai’s innings. The Delhi players, especially those on the boundary line, were left keeping a tab on the time. The end came with Samant reaching his 50.
Mumbai took their points tally to 14, with the three earned in this match. They had won both their previous matches, including one by an innings margin. On the other hand, Delhi are in a difficult position, having been involved in three draws, taking the first innings lead only once, for a tally of just five.
Scorecard
Mumbai 1st innings: 330.
Delhi 1st innings: 295.
Mumbai 2nd innings: S. Kukreja (not out) 229; W. Jaffer b Narwal 98; A. Rahane c sub (Chhabra) b Narwal 78; Amol Muzumdar b Awana 2; H. Shah c Dhawan b Nanda 1; V. Samant (not out) 53; Extras (b2, lb1, nb2, w2) 7; Total (for four wickets) 468. Fall of wickets: 1-178, 2-335, 3-345, 4-350.
Bowling: Sangwan 14-0-69-0, Narwal 20-5-75-2, Awana 15-0-71-1, Nanda 30-5-99-1, Bhatia 4-1-15-0, Jain 22-1-107-0, Chopra 9-0-29-0.
