New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) Mithun Manhas struck a flawless unbeaten 166 while Rajat Bhatia was unlucky to be dismissed for 99 as Delhi recovered from a shaky start to pile 344 for four against Maharashtra at the end of the first day in the Ranji Trophy Super League tie at the Roshanara Club ground here Tuesday.
The hosts who once again opted for a green top after it fetched them their season’s first victory against Saurashtra were without their ex-captain Aakash Chopra.

Chopra, who skipped the previous match for his marriage, pulled out last night complaining of fever.

However, put in to bat, Delhi got to face their own music when the top three batsmen including skipper Virat Kohli were back in the pavilion by lunch. But Manhas and Bhatia steadied the innings with a 256-run stand.

Bhatia, who played a gritty knock after falling to cramps, fell victim to nervous nineties, edging a wide delivery off Samad Fallah to wicketkeeper Rohit Motwani an over before close. Bhatia’s 160-ball innings had nine fours and one six.

At stumps, Manhas was looking solid at 166, having faced 248 balls and stroking 19 fours. Yogesh Nagar was yet to open his account.

The Maharashtra attack comprising two left-arm seamers Fallah (2-91) and Jitendra Patil (1-70) got consistent swing on a lively track in the morning and were well complemented by their left-arm spinner Kiran Adhav (1-72).

Patil gave Maharashtra the breakthrough in the eighth over when opener Aditya Jain nicked an away going delivery to wicketkeeper Motwani. Kohli then joined a watchful Ankur Julka but survived mere 26 balls before holing out a catch to Sangram Atitkar at the third slip off Fallah.

Julka departed on the last over before lunch when he misread an Adhav delivery that came in and disturbed the bails of his off-stump. At lunch Delhi, were teetering at 89 for three.

Experienced middle order batsman Manhas and Bhatia began the resurrection process. Bhatia suffered cramps in his left thigh but decided to continue with a runner in Julka. The Maharashtra bowling suddenly looked ordinary as Manhas and Bhatia batted with purpose, adding 117 runs in the second session, to propel Delhi to 205 for three at tea.

Manhas, making a comeback after a hamstring injury and playing just his second match this season, brought up his hundred in 182 balls and with 10 boundaries.

“It is very satisfying to score a big knock after coming back from injury.”

“Initially the ball was moving a bit, but I was cautious at the start. Once you are settled down it’s easier to bat,” Manhas said.