Manhas takes Delhi past 500

BANGALORE, December 18: By the time Karnataka bowlers, spearheaded by medium pacer Vinay Kumar, had made inroads into the Delhi batting line-up, the visitors had already piled up a mammoth first-innings total on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Group A Super League here on Tuesday. Mithun Manhas too notched up a ton after Virat Kohli's Day One heroics, enabling Delhi to post 558.
Making the most of the overcast conditions, Vinay Kumar provided the early breakthroughs, cutting short overnight centurion Kohli's tenure at the wicket.Kohli, when on 169, was caught fishing outside the off stump. Bad light stopped play for an hour but Rajat Bhatia fell immediately after to a Vinay inswinger.
Delhi, however, marched on despite these reverses. This time it was the turn of skipper Manhas (124) and Mayank Tehlan as they added 96 runs for the fifth wicket. It was Vinay again who provided the breakthrough as he bowled 17.5 overs in his second spell to remove Tehlan and Manhas before polishing off the tail with the company of Joshi.
Manhas, unbeaten on 26 overnight, was in impeccable form. Starting the day with a couple of cover drives, he maintained the momentum, singling out Appanna for special treatment and celebrating his century with a straight six off the left-arm spinner.
His knock ended when Vinay sent his stumps cartwheeling.
Kumar, meanwhile, waged a lone battle and returned with his second five-wicket haul from successive matches to touch the 100-wicket mark in Ranji Trophy.