Delhi in driver146;s seat

Playing at home, Mumbai have rarely appeared to be vulnerable. Today was one such day when they saw they batting falter and their bowling go awry.

Playing at home, Mumbai have rarely appeared to be vulnerable. Today was one such day when they saw they batting falter and their bowling go awry.

In retrospect, the odds had favoured the home team here at the Wankhede Stadium 8211; Delhi losing the toss on a track where they had already seen dust settling.

Mumbai, expectedly, chose to bat first,. All that, however, came crashing. In just 181 minutes, 10 overs post-lunch, Mumbai lost all their wickets, conceding six of them to medium-pacers Pradeep Sangwan and India recruit Ishant Sharma.

Delhi took back the advantage, one that they had lost with the toss of the coin. Sangwan remained the chief architect for the side, claiming the all-important wickets of opener Sahil Kukreja, Rohit Sharma and wicket-keeper-batsman Vinayak Samant. From the other end, Sharma kept the pressure on. Though he remained a bit expensive, wickets kept falling and Mumbai surrendered.

The Delhi bowlers excelled but Mumbai seemed to help their cause too, casualness leading to casualties. Abhishek Nayar, who has been in good form this season, walked in to bat with his team dwindling at 67/5 but failed to provide the necessary help.

Had Nayar stayed to add another 30-odd runs, the story could8217;ve been a little different. Delhi, in reply, began precariously too. Opener Akash Chopra fell to Avishkar Salvi after a promising start and Sehwag followed soon after edging one off Nayar to Samant.

Delhi were reduced to 76 for 2 and Mumbai gained a bit of the momentum.

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Here8217;s where Gautam Gambhir8217;s innings made all the difference to the day8217;s play. Opening with Chopra, he began cautiously and then followed it up with a range of strokes on both sides of the wicket that took Delhi closer to taking the innings lead.

The visitors are still short by eight runs, currently placed at 159/4.

With six wickets in hand and poised to take the all-important first innings lead, Delhi are now in the driver8217;s seat. Coach Vijay Dahiya now only hopes that Gambhir carries on the good show, which will remain a big factor in deciding the lead that his team manages to eventually earn.

Brief scores: Mumbai 166 P Naik 40, A Agarkar 32; Sangwan 3/38, Ishant 3/60. Delhi 159/4 G Gambhir batting 81; Salvi 2/28