Wilkin Mota’s gentle medium pace is far from a game-changing option. Against Delhi in the quarterfinal, however, the 33-year-old bowler proved to be the man with the golden arm for Mumbai. After conceding the first innings lead of 10 runs, Mumbai had amassed 450 in its second innings and were in the driver’s seat, if they could bowl Delhi out, then Mumbai could make it to the semifinal.

Delhi started sedately, but in one over Mota changed the complexion of the game. First, an in-cutter that breached Unmukt Chand’s (31) defence and knocked back his off stump. Then, another in-coming delivery, which caught Shivam Sharma plumb in front. From 56 for no loss, Delhi were suddenly reduced to 56 for two.

Rajat Bhatia came out to bat at No. 4 as Virender Sehwag was down with viral fever. Bhatia had scored 12 not out off 59 balls in the first innings.

This time, he went after the bowling. Three fours followed in Mota’s next over. It was an engrossing contest between the two powerhouses of Indian cricket.

Unfortunately a hailstorm arrived out of the blue. It provided the fans with an opportunity to assemble in front of the Delhi dressing room and urge Sehwag to give them a wave. The former India captain refused to budge, so they started chanting, “Dhoni, Dhoni…” From cricket’s perspective, the interruption was a real dampener. Play was stopped for an hour and 50 minutes and when it resumed, tempers flew.

Thakur-Gambhir face-off

Mumbai’s pace bowling pick this season, Shardul Thakur, removed the obstinate Gautam Gambhir, trapping him leg before before giving him a send-off. Gambhir, who had started walking back, returned to confront the bowler.

Eventually, the umpires had to step in and the match referee eventually docked Thakur 50 per cent of his match fee. Earlier, Gambhir had survived a dropped catch on two off Thakur. Yadav at second slip couldn’t hold on to the sharp chance. The Delhi captain was getting into the groove after that. He unleashed a lovely off drive off Thakur.

Task cut out

A short-arm pull off Mota and a straight drive off Balwinder Sandhu followed. Chasing 441 for victory or bat out five sessions for a draw, Delhi’s team’s hopes largely rested on him. In 2009, Gambhir’s 643-minute marathon at Napier (137) had spared India the blushes. But it was a time when he was at the peak of his career. The 33-year-old left-hander now doesn’t have a BCCI contract. He failed to roll back the years.

Mithun Manhas got a pair in his 125th Ranji Trophy match, nicking one from Thakur to Aditya Tare behind the stumps. The situation could have been worse but Bhatia got a reprieve in the final over of the day.

Siddhesh Lad’s delivery took the outside edge but eluded Yadav at first slip. At close on Day 4, Delhi moved to 110 for four in their second innings. They require another 331 runs on the final day with six wickets remaining.

Earlier, Mumbai began on overnight 376 for seven and batted for a little over two hours to be bowled out for 450 in their second innings. Lad held up one end well and got to his sixth first-class half-century. Delhi were not very sharp in the field.

Wicket-keeper Rahul Yadav dropped Thakur down the leg side in the second over. Shivam made a hash of an easy run out opportunity even as Harmeet Singh had given up. The latter scored 30 before being caught at mid-on by Manan Sharma off Bhatia, vital runs in the context of the game.

Brief scores: Mumbai 156 and 450 in 143.1 overs (S Lad 55) vs Delhi 166 and 110/4 in 42 overs (G Gambhir 34, R Bhatia 25*; S Thakur 2/43, W Mota 2/30).