da bet sport： Baroda were 183/2 at the close of play on the third day in theRanji Trophy final played at Gujarat State FertilizerCorporation Ground, Baroda, on Saturday
Santhosh S21-Apr-2001Baroda were 183/2 at the close of play on the third day in theRanji Trophy final played at Gujarat State FertilizerCorporation Ground, Baroda, on Saturday. Satyajit Parab withan elegant unbeaten 99 is leading the Baroda fightback afterhaving allowed Railways to accumulate runs to take a crucial151 runs first innings lead. Railways made 394 all out intheir first innings.Baroda in their second innings applied themselves to amassruns with a lot of conviction, CC Williams and Parab puttogether a century stand for the first wicket. They added 102runs, before Williams (41) played a loose shot to be caught byBangar at first slip of Tejinder Singh. Nayan Mongia playedsensibly to make 15 runs till a rush of blood cost him hiswicket. He was caught by Harvinder Singh at deep mid-off offthe bowling of Murali Kartik, trying to loft the ball over thelong-off fence.Skipper Jacob Martin survived some anxious moments and wasunbeaten on nine at close of play. But the story of the Barodasecond innings has been the brilliance of Parab. He showedcommendable ability to keep his focus as he kept the Railwaysattack at bay, striking nine boundaries in his innings.Railways who had started the day on 318/8 added another 76runs before losing their last two wickets. Murali Kartikplayed well this morning to score runs freely to get past hisFifty. He made 79 runs with the help of seven fours, beforebeing brilliantly stumped by Nayan Mongia off the bowling ofBhoite. Kartik and Kulamani Parida put together a vitalpartnership of 113 runs for the ninth wicket in 42.3 overs.Parida (47) and Harvinder Singh (17*) added 35 valuable runsfor the last wicket. Parida was caught by Irfan Pathan off thebowling of Valmik Buch at the long-on fence, failing to clearthe ropes. Just before his dismissal Parida had to deal with anasty piece of fast bowling from a frustrated Zaheer Khan. Hehad Parida taking evasive action to the short pitched stuff,then with a shoulder high beamer he struck Parida on thewrists, which required attention. Zaheer followed it with a’sand-shoe-crusher’, the yorker crashing into Parida’s frontfoot. Parida had to be taken to the hospital for X-rays anddid not join his mates in the Baroda second innings.Baroda clearly missed the services of its best fast bowlerRakesh Patel (2/49), who is nursing a leg injury. Zaheer Khan(3/92), Buch (3/86) and Bhoite (2/64) got amongst the wickets.Railways will have to bowl exceptionally well to reduce Barodain their second innings as batting last on this track mightturn out to be tricky affair.