A captain's knock puts Delhi in the driver's seat

Services toiled for 40 overs to reach 62 for two, replying to Delhi's imposing 467 for five declared, a total mainly powered by captain Mithun Manhas' cracking 140.

Resuming on Day Two at their overnight score of 242 for two, Manhas was on the offensive right from the beginning and was instrumental in his team scoring 151 runs off the 36 overs bowled in the first session.

Services tasted some success in the 14th over of the day when they had yesterday's centurion, Akash Chopra (123), caught at silly point by P Madhusudhan Reddy off Arun Sharma, bringing Pradeep Chawla to the wicket. Manhas, who exploited Services' erratic bowling and shoddy fielding to the full, dispatched glorious shots all over the ground, cracking 20 boundaries and two sixes, sending his rivals scurrying for cover.

His 16th boundary, a captivating pull towards the midwicket, fetched him his century. Manhas and Chawla (66) added 140 runs in 34 overs, piercing the field at will, before the latter fell, brilliantly stumped by keeper Sarabjeet Singh off Reddy in the 135th over.

Delhi plundered 72 runs in 11 overs after lunch before a mistimed Manhas shot off Sudhakar Ghag landed straight in the hands of Sanjay Verma at cover; the innings was promptly declared.

Services began their innings on a sedate note, the runs eluding them as Delhi's opening bowlers Amit Bandhari and Arun Singh were on target, striking line and length straight away. Delhi drew first blood in the seventh over when keeper Pradeep Chawla lunged to his right to latch on to an edge from Narendra Pal Singh, who never looked comfortable and managed just two off 30 balls.

With the Delhi bowlers and agile fielders giving them no room to play shots, Services went into a shell, getting into a defensive mode to ensure that did not lose any more wickets. But the hosts struck another blow in the 25th over when Delhi trump card off-spinner Sarandeep Singh scalped his first wicket, dismissing Jasvir Singh (7).

However, Reddy (16*) and Yashpal Singh (30*) joined together and tried to shrug off the impact of the early dismissals, playing some positive shots. Their unbeaten partnership of 41 imparted a modicum of stability to the Services innings, and they hold the key to their team's fate in the match, given the huge total amassed by Delhi.

Haryana force Jammu & Kashmir to follow on

The young brigade of Haryana's bowlers ripped through the opposing batting line-up as Jammu & Kashmir were forced to follow-on during the second day of the North Zone Ranji Trophy match at the Maharaja Aggarsain Stadium, Rohtak.

Replying to Haryana's first innings total of 410, Jammu & Kashmir were bundled out for a paltry total of 113 in 35.1 overs; they still need 282 runs to avoid a humiliating innings defeat.

Resuming their innings today at 286 for 3, Haryana's batsmen carried the total to 410. The overnight unbeaten batsman Ishan Ganda added only three runs to his personal score today, but Shafiq Kahn went on to record his career-best score of 146, hitting 20 fours. Jammu & Kashmir's captain, medium-pacer Vijay Sharma, did considerable damage to Haryana's middle order, taking five wickets.

Thereafter, Haryana's bowlers took complete command of the situation. Skipper Parinder Sharma reposed faith in his new set of bowlers, and each of them obliged him with wickets. Haryana's new find Sumit Narwal struck with his very first ball in Ranji cricket to dismiss Ranjt Bali. Off-spinner Gaurav Vashishta lagged by one, getting a wicket on the second ball of his career. The third debutante for Haryana, S Vidyut, struck with his leg-spin in his third over to get rid of Sameer Khajuria.

The second day's play belonged largely to the bowlers; on a turning track, as many as 18 wickets fell today. Haryana will be looking for an outright win in this match, possibly by an innings.

Himachal struggling to avoid follow-on

A fine bowling spell by Vineet Sharma (3-55) pushed Himachal Pradesh onto the back-foot, as they ended Day Two still requiring 244 runs, with five wickets in hand, to avoid a follow-on in their North Zone Ranji Trophy match against Punjab at the PCA stadium.

Punjab resumed their innings at 330/4, but southpaw Dinesh Mongia (178) departed on the last ball of the first over of the day. Mongia played a casual drive to Sandeep Sharma and scooped an easy catch for Paras Dogra to hold at covers. Sandeep Sawal (5) also departed early, with the addition of just nine runs to the total, Ashok Thakur getting him out caught behind.

Debutant Amit Uniyal joined Pankaj Dharmani and showed his confidence from the first ball that he faced. Dharmani himself was looking for a good partner, as he was stroking the ball very well. The duo toyed with the Himachal attack, adding 155 runs before lunch.

Dharmani completed his 12th century, off 146 balls, in fine style after lunch, punching the ball off the back foot to the long-on fence for his 17th four. Uniyal too completed his half-century in style as he pulled a short ball from Sangram Singh to the mid-wicket fence. A few overs later, however, Uniyal was walking back to the pavilion, caught and bowled by Sangram Singh for 57.

The 170-run seventh wicket partnership adding bulk to Punjab's score, they declared one hour before tea with the score on 540/9, Dharmani remaining unbeaten on 119. Chasing a huge total, Himachal openers Nischal Gaur and Raja Ali started off fluently as they scored 43 runs in just eight overs. Gaur departed soon, caught at gully off the bowling of Vineet Sharma.

Himachal's most experienced batsman Rajiv Nayyar failed to take up the challenge posed to his team, mis-hooking a quick delivery from Vineet Sharma. Raja Ali fell to the same bowler, leaving his side reeling at 67/3. Skipper Varinder Sharma departed as well, after scoring 23.

Some consolidation occurred between Sangram Singh (27*) and Dogra (29), who added 54 runs for the fifth wicket. Dogra was dismissed one minute before the close of play, trapped in front of the wicket by left-arm spinner Babloo Kumar. Himachal ended the day at 147/5.

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