Ranji Trophy: Cold weather continues to trouble steady Delhi

NEW DELHI: Besides their rivals, Delhi have also been fighting weather demons this Ranji season. Inclement weather had dogged them during some of their home games.
On Wednesday, as they looked to smother Haryana and virtually seal a well-deserved quarterfinal berth, a foggy morning had them bite nails in the dressing room at Lahli as the officials waited for the weather to improve before starting day's play.
As they looked to build on a significant overnight lead of 97 on a difficult pitch, Delhi openers Gautam Gambhir and Unmukt Chand had to wait for a long time before the dense fog lifted by noon. Only 38 overs could be bowled on the day, the third day of the four-day tie.
With Delhi reaching 1345 by stumps, the match is poised interestingly. While Delhi are in a dominant position, Haryana can hope to save the game as weather is likely to curtail the final day's play too.
Delhi are leading by 224 runs and would fancy their chances of forcing a win if they get to bowl sufficient number of overs at it will be very difficult for the batsmen on the final day on a dicey pitch.
Gambhir, who would have loved to score briskly, had to work hard for his 92ball 46. The pinch-hitters in Shivam Sharma and Sumit Narwal were slotted between middle-order stalwarts Virender Sehwag, Mithun Manhas and Rajat Bhatia.
But Shivam mustered 25 from 61 balls and the first-innings centurion Sehwag was beaten by an in-dipper from Joginder Sharma who was the pick of Haryana bowlers, taking three crucial wickets.