Matches (15)
IPL (3)
County DIV1 (3)
County DIV2 (4)
WT20 QUAD (in Thailand) (2)
OMA-W vs BAH-W (1)
CZE-W vs CYP-W (1)
PSL (1)
RESULT
Group B, Pune, January 21 - 24, 2015, Ranji Trophy
330 & 366
(T:390) 307 & 78/3

Match drawn

Player Of The Match
55, 2/35, 80 & 2/33
chirag-khurana
Preview

Pitch in focus as Maharashtra face stiff Delhi challenge

Delhi were surprised at the lack of green tinge on the surface at Gahunje, on the eve of their match against Maharashtra

Amol Karhadkar
Amol Karhadkar
20-Jan-2015
Soon after Virender Sehwag made a mockery of net bowlers by hitting them into stands at will, a couple of his Delhi team-mates walked across the practice nets into the main square to inspect the pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association's stadium at Gahunje. And they were surprised at the lack of green tinge on the surface.
So far, Maharashtra have hosted three games, all three of which produced results on green tops. On the eve of their crucial Ranji Trophy Group B league tie against Delhi, the surface at the bowl-shaped stadium resembled the brownish strip of the last two years that was compared to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway that runs alongside the stadium.
"Little surprised to see this kind of a wicket," Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya said. "We thought it would be a result-oriented wicket, but it's a typical west sort of a wicket. Looks a hard wicket."
Delhi's confusion was understandable, considering Group A standings. While Delhi are sitting pretty at the top with 30 points with three rounds remaining, Maharashtra - despite having jumped to third place on the back of consecutive victories in their last two games - are far from being assured of a top-three finish and entry into knockouts. With six points separating five teams, the race for the third qualification spot could well stretch till the last round. In such a scenario, Maharashtra's move of playing on what appears to be a flat track appears to be defensive.
It gives an impression that Maharashtra have admitted that they cannot overcome Gautam Gambhir's side, which has emerged as the most cohesive unit of the group; they appear to be thinking more about earning at least one point for avoiding a loss, than causing an upset.
Maharashtra captain Rohit Motwani, however, did not view the pitch in the same way. "I wouldn't say it's a flat track. It's a bouncy track. The brown look may give a feel there is no grass, but there is live grass on the wicket and in the morning in colder conditions, it will become livelier so it will offer a good help for the pace bowlers," Motwani said after an open-air team meeting, a rarity in Indian cricket, where teams mostly confine their discussions to the dressing room.
"We will never try to play safe or try to back off. We would keep the same intensity that we have had for five games, because that has been working for us. I don't think it's a good idea to back off. We will be coming hard again."
If Maharashtra indeed go hard at Delhi, they know that they will be in danger of being hit harder in return by a team in prime form. Despite not having a single player in top-10 run-getters and wicket-takers, Delhi have claimed maximum points this year. They have performed as a unit, with each one of their key batsmen - Gambhir, Sehwag, Mithun Manhas, Unmukt Chand and Rajat Bhatia - among the runs.

Amol Karhadkar is a correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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Ranji Trophy

Group A
TeamMWLDPTQuotient
KNTKA8404331.633
TN8413291.244
MUM8224200.937
MP8116191.143
BRODA8125181.078
RLYS8026160.922
UP8233150.760
BENG8017130.820
J + K8134120.601
Group B
TeamMWLDPTQuotient
DELHI8512371.471
MAHA8323261.290
VIDAR8215241.468
GUJ8224240.965
ODSA8332200.790
PNJB8233190.947
RAJ8233180.821
HRYNA8242170.875
SAU8134100.668
Group C
TeamMWLDPTQuotient
ASSAM8512381.325
AP8413291.454
HP8206281.677
JHK8215211.171
HYD8116201.123
KER8116200.908
TPURA803590.635
SVCS804480.773
GOA803550.575