Anuj Rawat hit a brilliant counter-attacking hundred to nullify Avesh Khan's six-wicket haul as Delhi looked set for an outright win against Madhya Pradesh in a group league encounter here on Sunday.
Wicket-keeper batsman Anuj scored 134 off 183 balls as Delhi scored 261 in their first innings in reply to MP's modest 132.
A first innings lead of 129 may well ensure full points for the home team.
The day belonged to left-handed Anuj, who played by far the most impressive innings of his nascent career so far.
Delhi were reduced to 36 for 5, courtesy Avesh (6/51), who worked up brisk pace to unsettle the likes of Kunal Chandela (0), Dhruv Shorey (0), Nitish Rana (0) and Hiten Dalal (0).
Coached by Rajkumar Sharma (Virat Kohli's coach), young Rawat showed admirable temperament and proper game sense as he first consolidated with Lalit Yadav (25) in a 60-run sixth wicket stand.
Once Lalit was dismissed, Rawat found an able ally in Shivam Sharma (39), adding 118 runs for the seventh wicket.
Once Delhi got the lead, Rawat batted more freely hitting on both sides of the wicket.
He repeatedly reverse-swept leg-spinner Mihir Hirwani off the rough and for good measure hooked Kuldeep Sen for a six. He also hit a couple of sixes off left-arm spinner Kartikeya Singh.
Another former U-19 player, who hogged limelight during the first half was Avesh, who is having a dream Ranji season so far with close to 35 wickets.
UP in command
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh reduced Tripura to 33/4 after piling up 552/7 declared in their Elite Group C match.
Uttar Pradesh rode on a double century by middle order batsman Priyam Garg (206).
Garg hammered a listless Tripura attack all over the park as he stuck 23 boundaries and one six in his 371-ball knock, which helped the hosts pile up a mammoth first innings total.
Uttar Pradesh skipper Aksh Deep Nath (106) and Rinku Singh (149) also struck hundreds as the hosts dominated the second day of the four-day match.
For the visitors, Saurabh Das (4-164) was the pick of the bowlers.
But in their first innings, Tripura had a disastrous start with their openers B B Ghosh (7) and J R Banik (9) falling cheaply.
From 2-16, they were struggling at 4-33 as another two wickets fell in quick succession.
Saurashtra restrict
Mumbai: Table toppers Saurashtra and former champions Mumbai were involved in a keen tussle for the first innings lead on day two of their Elite Group A match at the Wankhede Stadium.
Saurashtra bowled out Mumbai for 394 in the first innings in the morning and then replied with 213 for five wickets at close, still adrift of the home teams total by 181 runs after weathering an early collapse that saw them slumping to 37 for three.
At stumps, Prerak Mankad (56 in 106 balls) was at the crease after putting on a stand of107 runs for the fifth wicket with Jackson who was dismissed by Minad Manjrekar with the penultimate ball of the 65thover.