Ajay Jadeja finally brought the spotlight on himself with an unbeaten 206 -- his first epic knock since returning to cricketing action -- to power Delhi to a commanding 510 for 7 declared in the 'Elite' Group 'A' Ranji trophy match against Baroda at Vadodara on Wednesday.
After a string of indifferent performances, Jadeja displayed his enormous talent to steer Delhi to an enviable position. His knock, off 383 balls, was studded with 23 hits to the rope and two sixes.
In reply, the hosts were 25 for one wicket when stumps were drawn for the day.
Resuming at their overnight score of 233 for 3, the Delhi batsmen, led by Jadeja, made merry and thrashed Baroda bowlers to almost every corner of the ground.
Jadeja continued to thrash the attack till captain Mithun Manhas decided to declare the innings.
Replying to the huge total, Baroda lost their opener Connor Williams cheaply. Soon after his departure, the umpires called off the day's play with vice-captain Satyajit Parab remaining not out with 15 runs.
Scoreboard:
Delhi (1st innings): (Overnight 233 for 3):
G Gambhir c Mongia b Shekhar Joshi 52
R Bhatiya lbw Shekhar Joshi 49
V Dahiya lbw Irfan Pathan (Sr) 16
M Manhas b Rakesh Patel 57
A Jadeja not out 206
P Chawla lbw Irfan Pathan (Sr) 2
V Kumar c & b Valmik Buch 38
S Singh c Solanki b Valmik Buch 28
A Bhandari not out 14
Extras: (b 14, lb 12, nb 16, w 6) 48
Total (For 7 wkts decl) 510
Fall of wickets: 1-96, 2-122, 3-141, 4-245, 5-254, 6-354, 7-433.
Bowling: Rakesh Patel 42-6-162-1, Irfan Pathan (Sr) 30-7-82-2, Shekhar Joshi 23-9-45-2, Valmik Buch 51-12-115-2, Tushar Arothe 23-1-80-0.
Baroda (1st innings):
C Williams lbw b Sarandeep Singh 9
Satyajit Parab not out 15
Extras (nb 1) 1
Total (For one wicket) 25
Fall of wicket: 1-25.
Bowling: Amit Bhandari 2-0-13-0, Sanjay Gill 4-0-11-0, Sarandeep Singh 2.4-1-1-1.