Delhi skipper Bhatia optimistic of Mumbai-like turnaround despite being 85 for three

Delhi skipper Bhatia optimistic of turnaround despite being 85 for three

Delhi skipper Bhatia optimistic of Mumbai-like turnaround despite being 85 for three

Delhi skipper Rajat Bhatia sounded optimistic of a turnaround despite being 85 for three in reply to Mumbai's mammoth 500 on Day Two of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals at Brabourne yesterday.

"Even Mumbai had lost early wickets, but Abhishek Nayar (156) and contributions from the tail helped them reach where they have. So yes, I am confident we too can turn things around in our favour," said Bhatia.

From positive feel-good to superlative elation, Mumbai captain Wasim Jaffer experienced varying degrees of satisfaction on Day Two.

Jaffer was happy that Mumbai had attained the 500-run target they had set for themselves (Mumbai ended up exactly on 500). He was happier when slow left armer Iqbal Abdulla got his second half-century (69) of the season and Nayar posted a 150-plus score to help the team reach their desired target.

But Jaffer was happiest when his strike bowlers u2014 Ajit Agarkar, Usman Malvi and first-change Avishkar Salvi u2014 got a wicket each to reduce the visitors to 35 for three half-way through the 13th over.

Malvi had Mayank Tehlan caught by Onkar Khanvilkar for five. Then, Aditya Jain was trapped in front of the wicket by Agarkar for 11 and Salvi cleaned up the dangerous Mithun Manhas for five.

It was Delhi's long-time silent servant Bhatia (27) and the dashing left-hander Shikhar Dhawan (36) who managed some kind of a repair job to take Delhi to 85 for three when stumps were drawn.

"Yeah," Jaffer said, "It was great feeling to have created the early inroads. The bowlers bowled really well and importantly in the right areas. And I am glad they were rewarded."

Delhi could have well been 37 for four, but skipper Jaffer (second slip) grassed a low catch after Salvi induced an edge from Bhatia, who had just opened his account.

A reprieve to Bhatia and the introduction of centurion (156) Nayar into the attack turned the tables for Delhi.

While Agarkar, Malvi and Salvi bowled with great rhythm and admirable steam, Nayar lacked it.

Nayar bowled a few short-pitched deliveries and was rightly punished. But while Jaffer admitted Nayar did not bowl up to expectations, he staunchly backed his move.

"Fine, Nayar went for runs and did not necessarily hit the right areas, but that doesn't mean he is a bad bowler. We introduced him into the attack, because the ball was doing a fair bit and we hoped Nayar could get some bargain out of the conditions," Jaffer said.

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