Madhya Pradesh seamer Sunil Dholpure got the better of Delhi top order for the second time as the hosts were left fighting to save the Ranji Trophy Elite 'A' league match in Delhi on Monday.

After letting the visitors off the hook for a 55-run first innings lead, Delhi were precariously placed at 119 for four at close on the penultimate day of the four-day match at the Jamia Millia Islamia university grounds.

Madhya Pradesh were all out for 294 in reply to Delhi's 239.

It meant Delhi were only 64 runs ahead with six wickets in hand but a full day to bat out and avoid a defeat.

Dholpure, who had claimed four wickets in the first innings to rip through the Delhi batting, was the wrecker in chief again with three for 37.

Shikhar Dhawan on 31 and Rajat Bhatia on 11 were at the crease at stumps.

Scorecard

Delhi (1st innings): 239 for 9 decl

Madhya Pradesh (1st innings): overnight 207 for 4
Sachin Dholpure c Manhas b Bhatia 28
N Ojha lbw b Bhandari 25
A Khurasiya lbw b Jadeja 61
D Bundela c Manhas b Sanghvi 87
S Abbas Ali c Jadeja b Sanghvi 4
N Patwardhan b S Singh 27
B Tomar b Jadeja 2
Sunil Dholpure b Jadeja 0
J Likhar c Jadeja b Sanghvi 22
S Pandey not out 9
N Hirwani b S Singh 10

Extras: (b 3, lb 4, nb 12) 19

Total: (all out, 109.3 overs, 494 mins) 294.

Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-56, 3-171, 4-178, 5-227, 6-231, 7-231, 8-267, 9-278, 10-294.

Bowling: Bhandari 27-6-82-1, Bhatia 15-7-25-1, Jadeja 16-3-28-3, Sanghvi 22-5-59-3, S Singh 28.3-5-89-2, Bali 1-0-4-0.

Delhi (2nd innings):
A Chopra c Ojha b Sunil Dholpure 1
S Dhawan not out 31
A Bali b Sunil Dholpure 19
M Manhas lbw b Sunil M Dholpure 32
S Singh c Ojha b Pandey 6
R Bhatia not out 11

Extras: (b 5, lb 5, w 3, nb 6) 19

Total: (4 wickets, 44 overs) 119

To Bat: R Sanghvi, A Bhandari, A Jadeja, V Dahiya, S Gill.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-32, 3-87, 4-98.

Bowling: Pandey 13-4-40-1, Sunil Dholpure 14-3-37-3, Bundela 8-1-18-0, Hirwani 8-4-14-0, Likhar 1-1-0-0.