Kerala frustrated Delhi with some excruciatingly slow batting display to reach 286 for five in 135 overs in their first innings on the second day of the 'Elite' Group 'A' Ranji Trophy match in Delhi on Thursday.
Delhi's desperate bid to garner full points from the match to revive their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals from the group received a major setback as their bowlers failed to restrict their little-known opponents even on the second day of the four-day match at the Gurbaksh stadium.
With only two days remaining, and Kerala still left with five wickets, a draw is the most likely outcome and Delhi could at best take two points, that too if they manage to take the first innings lead.
But dismissing their opponents early tomorrow looks a tough ask for the hosts since almost all the batsmen managed to defy the bowlers and stay long enough at the crease.
At close, Ajay Kunda was batting on 90 and Sunil Oasis on 28.
Earlier, resuming at 85 for two, the visitors added 201 runs in 69 overs on the second day, which saw 40 minutes of play being lost due to bad light.
Vipin Lal (35) and Hemant Kumar (46) took the score to 120 before the third wicket fell when Hemant departed, offering a catch to Amit Bhandari off Rahul Sanghvi.
Vipin Lal was bowled by off-spinner Sarandeep Singh when the score was 152.
Sreekumar Nair (34) added 75 runs for the fifth wicket with Kunda before being trapped LBW by Bhandari.
Scoreboard
Kerala (1st innings):
CM Deepak lbw b Bhandari 21
S Somsunder c Gambhir b Sarandeep 18
Vipin Lal b Sarandeep Singh 35
Hemant Kumar c Bhandari b Sanghvi 46
Ajay Kunda batting 90
Sreekumar Nair lbw b Bhandari 34
Sunil Oasis batting 28
Extras: (b-2, lb-5, nb-7) 14
Total: (for 5 wkts, 135 overs) 286
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-42, 3-120, 4-152, 5-227.
Bowling: Bhandari 24-6-62-2, Gill 31-13-69-0, Sarandeep 37-11-54-2, Rajat Bhatia 12-4-20-0, Sanghvi 25-5-64-1, Jadeja 6-3-10-0.
