Ranji round-up: Dhawan, Ganguly shine

New Delhi: With barely 149 runs ahead and only one second-innings wicket to fall, Delhi can only win if Karnataka collapse dramatically on the fourth and final day.

Delhi stuttered to 255 for nine in their second innings despite Shikhar Dhawan's fighting century on the penultimate day at the Roshanara Ground on Thursday.

Delhi, who fought back on Wednesday after dismissing Karnataka for 260 in the first innings to concede a 106-run first innings lead, lost their way once the visitors separated the overnight Dhawan (100) and Rajat Bhatia (64), who added 135-runs for the third wicket.

Dhawan's 17th Ranji trophy century stood out and the Delhi vice-captain, with Bhatia, frustrated the Karnataka bowlers. The pair added 83 more to their overnight partnerhip of 52 before Arvind knocked off Bhatia's bails. Bhatia's 156-ball innings had nine fours.

Ganguly shines but Baroda grab lead

Sourav Ganguly (76) and Laxmi Ratan Shukla (69) cracked half-centuries to guide Bengal to 293, but could not stop Baroda from taking a crucial 14-run first innings lead on the third day.

Resuming at 102 for three, Bengal rode on Ganguly's brisk 97-ball innings which included 14 boundaries and after he was shown the pavillion door by Irfan Pathan in the 62th over, Shukla carried on the momentum.

Tamil Nadu secure lead against Gujarat

Riding on half-centuries from skipper Dinesh Karthik (77) and S Badrinth (50), Tamil Nadu took a crucial 14-run first-innings lead against Gujarat, although the game looked heading for a draw.

Resuming at a strong position of 198 for two, the hosts rode on strong middle-order batting even as Murali Vijay (95) missed out on a well deserved century.

Bhalla's century on debut guides Punjab to 307

Vishwas Bhalla struck a century on debut and forged an unfinished 99-run stand for the 10th wicket with Love Ablish as Punjab stretched their lead to 335 runs over Hyderabad on the penultimate day.

Punjab, who had already carved out a crucial 28-run first innings lead, rode on Bhalla's (116) unbeaten century, Pankaj Dharmani's 50 and Ablish's gritty unbeaten 30 to reach 307 for nine at stumps.