With a first-innings lead in the bag, Yash Dhull (70, 59b, 8x4, 2x6) and Ayush Doseja (62 n.o., 73b, 8x4) pressed the accelerator in an exhilarating partnership of 125 runs to boost Delhi's hopes of an outright victory against Himachal Pradesh in an Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy fixture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. On a hazy day in the national capital where the sun peeped out all too briefly, bad light resulted in play being called off at 4.15 p.m. But by the close of the third day, the host was comfortably placed at 196 for four in 32 overs in its second innings, having stretched the overall lead to 329 runs.

In the first half of the day, Delhi's bowlers did their bit by bowling out the opposition to 297. Navdeep Saini, the pick of the attack, finished with figures of 17-2-52-3. Himachal, which had resumed on 165 for three, did not help its cause by contriving to lose five scalps in the morning session.

With three batters perishing inside the opening hour, it was Akash Vashisht at No. 6 who showed some application in a contribution of 62. It forced Ayush Badoni and Co. to stay on the park for a little longer while narrowing the deficit to 133 runs.

When Delhi came out to bat in the second essay, the approach was palpable straightaway as it motored to 50 for two in seven overs. Once another wicket fell, Dhull and Doseja, both suffering from fever, took stock for a bit to take the team to 72 for three in 17 overs at tea. Post the resumption, the youngsters dazzled with a flurry of fours and sixes, and sent a clear-cut message about Delhi's desire of bagging six points. On the final day, it will be up to its bowling attack to ensure that the right intent translates into a rewarding outcome.

The scores:

Delhi -- 1st innings: 430.

Himachal -- 1st innings: Sidhant Purohit b Saini 70, Ankush Bains b Mathur 43, Ankit Kalsi c Sangwan b Saini 20, Pukhraj Mann c Doseja b Saini 23, Ekant Sen (run out) 5, Akash Vashisht c Arpit b Grewal 62, Mayank Dagar c Dhull b Grewal 28, Mukul Negi run out 14, Arpit Guleria b Badoni 4, Vaibhav Arora c Rawat b Siddhant 13, Divesh Sharma (not out) 0; Extras (w-2, b-4, lb-9): 15; Total (in 91.4 overs): 297.

Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-133, 3-152, 4-169, 5-173, 6-211, 7-231, 8-257, 9-291.

Delhi bowling: Siddhant 10.4-0-50-1, Grewal 18-2-47-2, Saini 17-2-52-3, Waghela 15-2-45-0, Badoni 15-1-50-1, Mathur 9-0-27-1, Arpit 7-1-13-0.

Delhi -- 2nd innings: Arpit Rana lbw b Negi 27, Sanat Sangwan lbw b Negi 1, Ayush Badoni c Divesh b Negi 14, Ayush Doseja (batting) 62, Yash Dhull c Dagar b Arora 70, Anuj Rawat (batting) 11; Extras (w-1, b-6, lb-4): 11; Total (for four wickets. in 32 overs): 196.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-38, 3-53, 4-178.

Himachal bowling: Arora 4-0-26-1, Negi 11-0-57-3, Dagar 3-1-16-0, Guleria 9-1-40-0, Vashisht 2-0-22-0, Divesh 3-0-25-0.

Dhull, Doseja press home Delhi's advantage