Building on a strong foundation, laid by openers Akash Chopra (81 not out) and Shekhar Dhavan (82) who put up 142 runs for the first wicket, Delhi were sitting pretty at 213 for 2 in their first innings after dismissing Karnataka for 283 on day 2 in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match in Bngalore on Wednesday.

Skipper Virender Sehwag (40) was unbeaten in the company of Chopra at stumps, adding 71 runs for the third wicket. Delhi trail Karnataka's first innings total by 70 runs.

Resuming at overnight total of 231 for 6ix, Karnataka could add only 52 runs, as the remaining four wickets fell, with Chetanya Warda (3/43), Kunal Lall (2/50) striking in quick succession.

Ace leggie Anil Kumble could do little to help the hosts and proved costly, conceding 73 runs for one wicket in 25 overs.

Left arm spinner Sunil Joshi claimed one wicket for 49 runs.

Scorecard

Karnataka (1st innings):
A Uthappa c Sehwag b Sharma 31
B Chipli c Varun Kumar b Bhatia 16
B Rowland c Varun Kumar b Kunal Lal 81
S Shinde c Varun Kumar b Sehwag 12
S Somasunder lbw Sehwag 6
VST Naidu c Sehwag b Nanda 19
B Akhil c Sehwag b Bhandari 62
S Joshi c Sehwag b Kunal Lal 14
A Kumble c Chopra b Nanda 5
R Vinay Kumar not out 11
N Aiyappa b Nanda 0
Extras: (b 17, lb 4, nb 5) 26
Total: (all out, 106.5 overs, 440 mins) 283

Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-56, 3-72, 4-103, 5-134, 6-231, 7-265, 8-267, 9-275, 10-283.

Bowling: Bhandari 23-7-50-1, Kunal Lal 23-7-50-2 (5nb), Bhatia 6-1-10-1, Nanda 22.5-3-43-3, Sharma 22-2-70-1, Sehwag 10-1-39-2.

Delhi (1st innings):
S Dhawan c Akhil b Joshi 82
A Chopra not out 81
M Tehlan b Kumble 0
V Sehwag not out 40
Extras: (b 8, lb 1, nb 1) 10
Total: (2 wickets, 75 overs) 213

To bat: M Manhas, R Bhatia, Varun Kumar, A Bhandari, A Sharma, C Nanda, Kunal Lal.

Fall of wickets: 1-142, 2-142.

Bowling: Vinay Kumar 10-2-31-0, Aiyappa 10-3-36-0, Akhil 3-3-0-0, Kumble 25-5-73-1 (1nb), Joshi 22-5-49-1, Shinde 5-0-15-0.