Mumbai pocket three points

Hands on his waist, legs crossed, shaking his head in disbelief, Mithun Manhas stood at the wicket long after the umpire had raised his finger.

Hands on his waist, legs crossed, shaking his head in disbelief, Mithun Manhas stood at the wicket long after the umpire had raised his finger. A hundred in his 100th first-class match would8217;ve been fitting for this domestic giant, but he had fallen two short.

The 29-year-old, who has developed the habit of inventing soft dismissals for himself, again fell against the run of play. He had played two exquisite shots off Ajit Agarkar 8212; a cover-drive and a square cut 8212; to race from 90 to 98, but then cut a short ball from Ramesh Powar straight into Agarkar8217;s hands at point.

After 13 overs of fruitless seam bowling on Tuesday morning, the sixth delivery from the off-spinner had fetched Mumbai the breakthrough, marking the beginning of the end for the hosts.

In the next over, leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule took over from the other end and foxed Puneet Bisht into padding up to a googly. And soon after, Delhi8217;s last hope, Rajat Bhatia, who had moved into the 80s, was stumped after stepping out too early against Bahutule8217;s turn.

Delhi chairman of selectors Chetan Chauhan kept changing chairs in the hope that the team8217;s fortunes would change too, and superstition kept Mumbai coach Praveen Amre walking along the boundary rope to help his team. But no divine intervention was needed. Without having to make an extraordinary effort in the field, Mumbai walked away with a 35-run first-innings lead and the three points that come with it.

Though the last-wicket partnership was worth 37, Delhi8217;s embarrassing shot-selection raised questions about the lack of accountability in the team because of a weak bench. From afternoon till evening, as Wasim Jaffer and Sahil Kukreja took charge of Mumbai8217;s second innings with an unbroken opening stand of 149, the concern within the Delhi dressing room was more about Rajat Bhatia8217;s wedding and his unavailability for the next game. As of now, the defending champions8217; campaign seems to be moving ahead without purpose, motivation or direction.

Jaffer indicated later that, given half a chance, he would like to bat all day on Wednesday. Given the state of Delhi8217;s attack on the fourth day of their last two matches, it won8217;t be a surprise if no effort is made to stop the Mumbai skipper from dealing another psychological blow to the hosts when play resumes.