Services Struggling at 297 for 9

A stubborn 137 minute stay at the wicket by the eighth wicket pair helped Services reach 297 for the loss of nine wickets but the visitors were still 21 short of saving the follow-on at the end of third day's play against Delhi in the North Zone Ranji Trophy tie here today.

Coming together in the 51st over of the day with Services struggling at 210 for 7 after Delhi left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi ran through the middle order claiming four quick wickets, a determined CD Thompson and JP Pandey thwarted the rival attack for 34 overs frustrating Delhi's attempts to wrap up the tail and enforce a follow-on today itself.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 62 for two, services continued their save-the-match tactics with overnight batsmen cautiously defending for 22 overs before Delhi struck removing Yahspal Singh (69), who while trying to sweep, edged to keeper Pradeep Chawla off Rahul Sanghvi.

Sanghvi struck again four overs later removing PMS Reddy (34, 3x4), effecting a brilliant caught-and-bowled.

Just when Services seemed to fold up meekly, skipper Sanjay Verma played a blistering innings, which included ten boundaries. when the team seemed to claw their way back into the game, Sanghvi came back with more venom and sent Verma back.

Verma (53) skied a Sanghvi full toss towards the mid-wicket and Sarandeep Singh committed no mistake.

Four overs later, off-spinner Sarandeep produced a beauty and Chawla latched on to a top edge flying out of new man Sarabjeet Singh's bat.

The Sanghvi-Chawla duo continued working wonders for Delhi and this time Sayed Javed perished to their designs for a duck giving Chawla his fourth catch of the match.

Delhi then prepared for the kill, bringing on seamers Bandhari and Arun Singh to finish off the tail. But the Thompson- Pandey partnership proved too stubborn.

With his arsenal exhausted, Manhas brought himself on and effected a turn-around six overs before close of play dismissing Pandey, who seemed to have lost concentration and ended up snicking to Akash Chopra at first slip.

He also worked a miracle with the last ball of the day dismissing Arun Sharma who hit a rash shot towards fine leg where RS Gupta gleefully grabbed it.

Delhi would have loved to garner full eight points with an outright victory after dominating with a huge first innings score. For that to happen, they will have to grab 11 service wickets on the last day tomorrow.

On a dead Palam pitch, it is indeed an uphill task.