Unmukts maiden ton propells Delhi

Its a special feeling to get a hundred at this level,especially when your team needed it the most. After I got my hundred,I feel a more complete batsman and a real sense of achievement, said Unmukt even as he was inundated with a steady stream of compliments.

The opener had not only almost carried his bat through in an innings that ended two minutes and three deliveries after his caught behind dismissal by JP,but had also single-handedly dragged Delhi to a slender 29-run first innings lead in a complete total of 290 at the end of second days play.

Unmukts dominance reflected off the fact that Shikhar Dhawan and Gaurav Chabbras identical scores of 39 were the next best in the Delhi innings.

Unmukt was beaten numerous times by Bangar and JP who took nine wickets between them - the latter completed a five-wicket haul – but the 17-year old Unmukt hung on grimly on a wicket that still enabled movement and bounce.

He forced the Railways bowlers to leave their outside off stump line and bowl to his strengths,needing 223 deliveries to reach triple figures 37 alone for the journey from 90 to 100 where he spent 55 minutes.

Railways must have felt the absence of Murali Kartik,out with back spasms,but the seamers handled the workload appreciably and kept up the pressure on the batsmen.

Dhawan,Aditya Jain and Mayank Tehlans early dismissal on the day upset Delhis plans for a substantial first innings lead,and it was only courtesy a fourth wicket partnership of 83 runs between Chabbra and Unmukt that Delhis line-up found some spine.

His innings though wasnt entirely blemish free as he enjoyed a reprieve on 116 when Harshad Rawle dropped him off JP at cover point just before Delhi had crossed over Railways score of 259 in the 89 th over of the innings.

With Delhis tail wagging,Unmukt decided to show an aggressive dimension of his batting and two lofty hits for six added vital runs to the Delhi total and got him to his 150.

Unmukt may have already scored two half-centuries in his previous games,but those scores certainly would not have given him the same satisfaction as this hundred which has justified the selectors choice in elevating him from the under-19 stage to the senior level.

Hosts Delhi though,are still in a state of quandary for the next two days. Three points in the pocket are enough for a place in the quarterfinals but defending a slender margin,and the sight of a recuperating Kartik promises the final verdict isnt out yet.

Brief scores:

Railways 259 vs Delhi 290 in 96.5 overs (Unmukt Chand 151,Gaurav Chabbra 39,Shikhar Dhawan 39; JP Yadav 5/88,Sanjay Bangar 4/57).