Left-armers Nehra, Pathan leave contest in the balance

The second day of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Baroda was about fightbacks. Those who led the turnaround at the Ferozshah Kotla were two India discards --- Ashish Nehra for Delhi and Irfan Pathan for Baroda.

Both picked fifers as 13 wickets fell during the day. Another man who shone for the hosts was wicketkeeper Punit Bisht with an unbeaten 114. At stumps, Delhi were 250 for six, needing 68 to take the first innings lead.

Carrying on from their overnight 273 for three, Baroda fell to Nehra's guile and collapsed like a pack of cards. In the second over of the day, Nehra scalped centurion Rakesh Solanki and followed it with Shatunjay Gaekwad's wicket.

Delhi continued to drop catches as Irfan Pathan was dropped thrice on 4, 8 and 16. Pathan ultimately fell to Nehra, who finished with six wickets, and Baroda were all out for 318.

It was Pathan's turn to prove a point, and he did it in style with the wickets of Unmukt Chand and Milind Kumar.

The other new-ball bowler Sunit Singh ensured Shikhar Dhawan continued with his inconsistent run. Pathan then had Yogesh Nagar leg before and got the patient Rajat Bhatia caught at leg slip.

At 74 for five, Delhi were staring down the barrel. Capitalising on Pathan's absence, skipper Mithun Manhas and Bisht stabilised the innings.

The 136-run stand ended with Manhas falling to Pathan, which completed the latter's third five-wicket haul in four games. Pathan continued to trouble the batsmen but Bisht held firm to score his fifth first-class ton.