Powar fiver flattens Delhi, Mumbai take huge lead

Mumbai:

Ramesh Powar wreaked havoc with his five-wicket haul as Mumbai skittled out Delhi for a meagre 211 to take a huge 289 runs first innings lead on the third day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final tie here on Tuesday.

The deadly spell of 5.3-3-9-5 by the India discard soon after lunch triggered a dramatic collapse as Delhi, replying to Mumbai's huge first innings total of 500, lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 23 runs in 20.3 overs.

Powar, who ended up with 5 for 47, was given good support on a spinning Brabourne Stadium track by left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla and the off spinner's victims included Delhi's captain and main hope Rajat Bhatia.

It was the dismissal of Bhatia, who was bowled after a defiant 85 with nine fours and two sixes, that started the steep slide as the visitors slumped from 188 for 4 in the 73rd over to 211 all out in the 79th.

By stumps the hosts, who did not enforce the follow-on, increased their overall lead to 412 by making 123 for four in the second innings, with opener Sahil Kukreja making the bulk of the runs with a knock of 71 studded with 13 fours.

Delhi's left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra grabbed three of the four wickets that fell but it looks almost certain that 38-time champions Mumbai would reach their 43rd final on Wednesday.