Munaf Patel's four-wicket haul enabled Rest of India take the upperhand against Delhi on Day 2 of the Irani Trophy match at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Baroda pace bowler claimed four wickets for 31 runs as Delhi were dismissed for 177 in their first innings, in reply to Rest of India's score of 252.
Rest of India consolidated their position with some steady batting in the second essay, and Rahul Dravid and Subramaniam Badrinath were both unbeaten on 34 and 33 respectively in the team's total of 99 for 1 in 36 overs, for an overall lead of 174 runs.
Wasim Jaffer was the lone wicket to fall, caught in the slips off Pradeep Sangwan for 21.
Munaf claimed the wickets of Akash Chopra (42), Virat Kohli (4), Mithun Manhas (4) and Ashish Nehra. His disciplined line and length forced the Delhi batsmen into mistakes. All were guilty of trying to force the pace on a slow wicket and lost their wickets in the process.
Virender Sehwag scored a brisk 43, but lost his wicket just as he looked to step up a gear. He added 57 runs for the second wicket with Chopra before Delhi lost four quick wickets for the addition of only 22 runs.
Zaheer Khan gave Rest of India an early breakthrough when he claimed the wicket of Gautam Gambhir with his first delivery of the day. The Delhi left-hander tried a forceful drive at a wide delivery, but ended up edging it to Rahul Dravid at first slip and was out for 5.
Akash Chopra and Virender Sehwag displayed positive intent despite the loss of an early wicket and did not let the pacers to take charge. Chopra, who came into the match on the back of a good run in domestic cricket, continued his good form with the bat. He scored a brisk 42, laced with seven cracking boundaries off 68 deliveries, before he was brilliantly caught by Mohammad Kaif off Munaf Patel.
But he had given Delhi the perfect platform, as he added 58 runs for the second wicket with captain Sehwag. Delhi were 82 for two in the 21st over.
The Sehwag-Kumble duel lit up the morning session. Kumble came into the attack in the 20th over of the innings as Sehwag chose to wait and watch. But once he got his eye in, he showed scant respect for the veteran leggie. The dashing opener stepped down the wicket and smashed Kumble for a huge six straight down the ground. He again slammed him through mid-wicket for a boundary to race to 43.
But, in the end, it was Kumble who had the last laugh as he snapped up the Delhi skipper. Sehwag tried to guide Kumble through the third-man region but played the ball a bit too fine and was gobbled up by Dravid at first slip. The right-hander made 43 from 57 deliveries, but his dismissal left Delhi on a precarious 96 for four.
Mithun Manhas became Munaf's third victim as he dabbed at an away going delivery, which was neatly held by Dhoni, who dived to his right, as Delhi slipped to 102 for five.
Puneet Bisht (28) and Pradeep Sangwan (23) scored some useful runs at the end, but there was little they could do to stop the Rest of India bowlers.
Harbhajan Singh helped himself to two wickets when he scalped Bisht and Chetanya Nanda (0) in quick succession. Veteran Ashish Nehra tried a reckless swing only to see his stumps being sent cartwheeling by Patel.
Ishant Sharma was the last wicket to fall, out leg before wicket to Kumble for 3. Delhi were dismissed for 177, their last nine wickets falling for a mere 97 runs.
The wrecker-in-chief was Munaf (4 for 31). Zaheer Khan (2 for 45) and Harbhajan (2 for 32) chipped in with important contributions.
Buoyed a 75-run lead, Rest of India openers Dravid and Wasim Jaffer made sure they did not let the initiative slip.
Jaffer once again disappointed as he hung his bat out to a wide, outgoing delivery and was caught in the slips off Sangwan for 21.
Badrinath joined Dravid in the middle and both did not let the Delhi bowlers a sniff of a chance. They batted with great responsibility, preferring to opt for caution, with nearly three days in hand.
Dravid though again struggled to get going but seemed content holding one end up. Badrinath survived a few close moments at the start, before progressing to 33 off 71 deliveries, inclusive of five boundaries, at stumps.
Dravid was unbeaten on 34 from 111 deliveries, inclusive of two boundaries, as Rest of India finished the day on 99 for one in 36 overs.
Scorecard
Rest of India (1st innings): 252 all out
Delhi (1st innings):
Akash Chopra c Kaif b Munaf 42 (68b, 7x4)
Gautam Gambhir c Dravid b Zaheer 5 (16b)
Virender Sehwag c Dravid b Kumble 43 (57b, 3x4, 1x6)
Virat Kohli c Dhoni b Munaf 4 (11b)
Rajat Bhatia not out 12 (33b, 1x4)
Mithun Manhas c Dhoni b Munaf 4 (6b, 1x4)
Puneet Bisht not out 15 (51b, 2x4)
C Nanda c Jaffer b Harbhajan 0 (5b)
P Sangwan not out 23 (40b, 1x6)
A Nehra b Munaf 0 (1b)
Ishant Sharma lbw b Kumble 3 (15b)
Extras: (b:1, lb:3, nb:4) 8
Total: (all out in 57 overs) 177
Fall of wickets: Gambhir (1-23), Chopra (2-80), Kohli (3-96), Sehwag (4-96), Manhas (5-102), Bhatia (6-138), Nanda (7-139), Bisht (8-160), Nehra (9-169), Ishant (10-177)
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 15-3-45-2, RP Singh 9-0-31-0, A Kumble 11-2-34-2, Munaf Patel 9-0-31-4, Harbhajan Singh 13-2-32-2.
Rest of India (2nd innings):
Wasim Jaffer c Chopra b Sangwan 21 (36b, 3x4)
Rahul Dravid not out 34 (111b, 2x4)
S Badrinath not out 33 (71b, 5x4)
Extras: (b:4, lb:5, nb:2) 11
Total: (for 1 wicket in 36 overs) 99
Fall of wickets: Jaffer (1-44).
Bowling: A Nehra 8-1-28-0, I Sharma 9-1-29-0, C Nanda 10-2-15-0, P Sangwan 5-0-11-1, V Sehwag 2-1-4-0, R Bhatia 2-0-3-0.
