Gautam Gambhir showed enormous patience during his undefeated 135 while some of the junior batsmen threw away their wickets as Delhi reached 277 for four at stumps on day three of the Ranji Trophy Group A game against Karnataka in Alur on Saturday.

The home team’s gigantic 649 still seems a long haul as Delhi would need another 373 runs on the final day to ensure three points.

With only six wickets in hand, this looks improbable at the moment with Gambhir only having vice-captain Milind Kumar (10 batting) for company.

The likes of Unmukt Chand (16) and Rishabh Pant (41) did not show the wherewithal to stay at the crease and support the team’s oldest cricketer, who mostly waged a lonely battle with partial support from Dhruv Shorey (64).

For Delhi, the target will be not to get all out and prevent Karnataka from at least getting three points from the game.

Baroda in charge vs Mumbai

Meanwhile, Swapnil Singh broke an eleven-year jinx as he scored his maiden first class ton, a knock of 164 without a blemish, to help Baroda take a massive first innings lead of 404 runs against Mumbai on day three of the Ranji Trophy Group C match in Mumbai on Saturday.

And then Baroda had the hosts and 41-time champions on the ropes at 102 for 4, with Mumbai needing 302 runs more to avoid an embarrassing innings defeat in their landmark 500th Ranji game.

Overnight not out on 63 in a team score of 376 for four in reply to the hosts’ meagre 171, Swapnil grinded the hapless Mumbai attack relentlessly during a stay of five minutes under seven hours as Baroda reached 575 for 9 before applying the declaration at the Wankhede Stadium.