Tamil Nadu earn 77-run first-innings lead against Delhi

Tamil Nadu earned a handsome first-innings lead on the third day of their five-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group semi-final against hosts Delhi. At stumps, the visitors led by 159 runs with six second-innings wickets in hand.

Delhi, who resumed their first innings at 127/4, lost skipper Vijay Dahiya (19) early in the day (129 for 5). The other overnight not out batsman Mithun Minhas (31) also followed soon after. Among the rest, only NS Negi (44) and Amit Bhandari (32*) put up any resistance as Delhi were dismissed for 256. For Tamil Nadu, medium-pacer MR Shrinivas claimed four wickets while spinner D Dhandapani ended up with three wickets.

The advantage that Tamil Nadu gained as a result of their 71-run first-innings lead, though, was lost when four of their top batsmen fell in the 38 overs that they faced in their second essay. At stumps on the third day, the visitors were on 88/4, with Sadagoppan Ramesh (20*) and Sridharan Sharath (5*) holding fort.