Selectors picked up virtually a test side which will be playing against Australians from October 9th but Rest of India batting collapse again as they failed to play full 90 overs of days play. Rest of India bowled out for just 252 runs in 81.3 overs thanks to some lusty hit by lower order players Harbhajan Singh (26 runs), R.P.Singh (19 runs) and Munaf Patel (18 runs). At stump on day1 Delhi were 21 without loss with G.Gambhir batting on 4 while A.Chopra batting on 16 runs. Now Delhi will be looking to take big lead to take most advantage during their first inning. For Delhi Ishant Sharma (3/22), C.Nanda (3/60) and P.Sangwan (3/57) were pick-of the bowlers. Especially Ishant Sharma bowled superb spell during his twelve overs and dismissed Rahul dravid, S.Badrinath and M.Patel to justify his fitness in the eye of selectors. Earlier ROI Captain Anil Kumble won the all important toss and decided to bat first. ROI started their first inning with two new openers R.Dravid (46 runs) and Wasim Jaffer (50 runs). Both openers put on 77 runs for the first wicket before W.Jaffer was dismissed by leg-spinner C.Nanda. ROI went into lunch without any further damage done. But soon after lunch Ishant Sharma strike twice with the beauty of delivery, first to dismiss set batsman Rahul Dravid for 46 runs. However replay showed that ball could miss the leg stump and then bowled S.Badrinath for 16 runs to reduce the Rest of India score from 112/1 to 127/3. Virender Sehwag got rid of V V S Laxman to reduce Rest of India to 167 for four off 61 overs at tea. Rest of the ROI batsman fall like pack of card and at one stage they were struggling to reach 200 run marks at 187/8. However lower order batsman played their part to give some respectability to the innings total. Match Summary (Day1) Rest of India – 252/10 in 81.3 Overs W.Jaffer- 50 R.Dravid – 46 Md.Kaif- 29 V.V.S.Laxman-16 I.Sharma – 12.3-5-22-3 P.Sangwan– 15-1-57-3 C.Nanda-27.1-3-60-3 Delhi – 21/0 in 5 Overs A.Chopra – 16* G.Gambhir – 4* Z.Khan– 2-1-8-0 R.P.Singh– 2-0-7-0
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