Reeling Delhi face Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya register victory in Ranji

NEWDELHI: Delhi, reeling from an innings loss against Kerala, will look to pick up the pieces when they take on Madhya Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group B game starting here on Saturday.

After five matches, Delhi (7 pts) are joint 14th in the combined standings, of Group A and B. They are second from bottom in Group B, not having won a game this season. MP are second (18 pts) in the group, and joint third overall. Hyderabad, fifth in Elite Group B (overall 10th) host Punjab (overall joint 11th).

In Group A, Karnataka will aim for full points against Railways in Shimoga. Champions Vidarbha host Gujarat --- both are joint second overall.

In Elite A, Mumbai, joint 13th overall and under pressure to win, face Saurashtra, the overall leaders, at the Wankhede.

Mumbai will be without senior pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, who dropped out after being named in the squad as he was not fully fit.

Mumbai are struggling in the 13th spot with eight points from five matches in the combined standings of teams in the Elite section. Saurashtra are on top.

Mumbai must win but it will be tough against Saurashtra, flying high after two back-to-back wins to lead the table with 25 points from six games.

“Mumbai teams of the past have been in this situation as well where they had to win all their games. We can draw inspiration from those teams,” said wicketkeper, Aditya Tare.

Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat was also upbeat. “The momentum is with us. We are confident and look forward to this contest. Mumbai definitely look weaker on paper, but are at home. This is our best chance (to beat Mumbai),” he said.

MEGHALAYA WIN

Meghalaya beat Mizoram by an innings and 324 runs in a Plate match in Shillong on Friday. Brief scores: Mizoram 86 all out (Gurinder Singh 5/15) & 100 all out (G Singh 6/41, A Singhania 3/31) lost to Meghalaya 510 all out (Y Nagar 144, G Singh 99). Meghalaya won by inngs and 324 runs. Pts: Meghalaya 7 pts; Mizoram 0.