Karnataka batsmen did not capitalise on their starts and were restricted to 273 for 8 in their first innings on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match against Delhi in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Apart from opener Robin Uthappa (88) and Sudhindra Shinde (52), the other top order batsman, all of whom reached the double figures, lacked the patience required to score on the slow Jamia Millia track.

At stumps, Doda Ganesh was batting on 30 while Udit Patel was not out on 7, the visitors still trailing Delhi by 154 runs and almost certain to lose two points for conceding first innings lead.

But at the same time, an outright win also seems to be a distant possibility for the hosts as they would first have to take two Karnataka wickets on the morrow and then score quickly enough to give their bowlers a chance to dismiss the visitors for the second time.

Earlier, resuming at 30 for no loss, Karnataka lost Barrington Rowland cheaply and looked in a spot of bother when half their team was in the pavilion with the total on 166.

But Shinde and left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi (25) added valuable 59 runs for the sixth wicket before both were dismissed in six balls, the score reading 225.

However, Delhi skipper Ajay Jadeja's hopes of cleaning off the tail at the earliest were dashed by Ganesh who held fort on one end resolutely.