Delhi lose early wickets after dismissing Odisha cheaply

Minnows Odisha hit back in the final session to pick three Delhi wickets, after the home team bowlers dismissed them for a paltry 143, in the second round Ranji Trophy encounter at the Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi on Friday.

Having gained the upper hand, Delhi's top-order, however, couldn't perform as per expectations and they were reduced 62 for 3 in 31 overs when stumps were drawn.

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Odisha seamer Basant Mohanty grabbed two for 21, dismissing openers Shikhar Dhawan and Unmukt Chand for 22 and 3 respectively.

Seamer Deepak Behra ended debutant Mohit Sharma's 70-minute ordeal after he scratched around for 16.

Even coach Vijay Dahiya admitted that Mohit's failure to rotate the strike increased pressure on Dhawan, who, he felt, was middling the ball well.

The manner in which Dhawan offered a dolly to Rakesh Mohanty at gully, off Basant, raised questions about the Delhi captain's form in the past few seasons of the Ranji Trophy.

If one debutant, Mohit, never looked a part during his 70-minute stay, Manan Sharma, another debutant, did his cause no harm as he snapped up four wickets for 30 runs to help Delhi dismiss Odisha quickly.

The left-arm spinner, son of former India cricketer Ajay Sharma, was not afraid to flight the ball and also got the odd one to turn and jump as he claimed wickets even after getting hit.

Manan, though, had the advantage of bowling to the lower middle order after Delhi's pace trio of Pawan Suyal (3-43), Sumit Narwal (2-35) and Parvinder Awana (1-23) polished off Odisha's top-order, which did not show stomach for a fight.

The most impressive of the Delhi pacers was left-armer Suyal, who was rightly brought in place of non-performer Pradeep Sangwan. He bowled with good pace and got the ball to move away from the right-handers, in the process getting openers Paresh Patel (9) and Natraj.

The one with which he got Biplab Samantray straightened after pitching.

Odisha's cause was hurt even more as skipper Natraj Behra (35) retired hurt after being hit in the abdominal region by a Narwal delivery. He went out at score of 41 for three and came in to bat after the fall of sixth wicket at 114.

According to Delhi coach Dahiya, the immediate requirement would be to get the lead, which is 82 runs away, and he is banking on old warhorse Mithun Manhas to shoulder bulk of the responsibility.

Brief Scores:

Odisha (1st innings): 143 in 47.1 overs (N Behra 35, Manan Sharma 4-30, P Suyal 3-43).

Delhi (1st innings): 62-3 in 31 overs (Basant Mohanty 2-21).