Delhi struggles to 55/3 against Mumbai's 328

Chennai, Jan 7 (UNI) Delhi were reeling at 55 for three in their first innings in reply to Mumbai's 328 all out at the end of second day in the semifinals of the under-17 cricket tournament in the Vijay Merchant Trophy here today.

Opener Anushul Gupta was batting on 29 when the stumps were drawn.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 151 for four, the Mumbai batsmen, who made slow progress yesterday, showed better application with the bat before being all out at the stroke of tea in 166 overs.

Nikhil Patel Junior scored a patient 64 (234 balls, 7x4) while Pankaj Ramdev Jaiswal hit a fluent 87 (224 balls, 9x4, 1x6). These two added 156 for the fifth wicket, before the rest of the innings crumbled.

Delhi missed the services of off-spinner Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, son of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, as he bowled only eight overs after suffering an injury in the bowling hand while fielding but left arm spinner Varun Sood claimed three wickets and Manu Sharma bagged two wickets. Tejashwi Yadav, who claimed 2 for 47 yesterday, finished at 2 for 65.

In the other semifinal, Uttar Pradesh were 99 for three in 42 overs in reply to Punjab's 343 all out in 135.3 overs.

Opener Kunwar Raina, resuming at 68 not out, helped Punjab, who resumed at 181 for five, to reach a good total with a fluent century. His 147 came in 399 balls and contained 17 hits to the fence.

Anil Shihag, coming at number eight, scored a brisk 47 (74 balls, 4x4).

Right arm medium pacer Bhuvanesh Kumar and left arm medium pacer Rizwan Ahmed claimed three wickets each for Uttar Pradesh.

UNI