Parab in vanguard of Baroda's fightback

By G. Viswanath

VADODARA, APRIL 21. Baroda showed signs of making a turnaround in the Ranji Trophy final on Saturday. Its top order batsmen were in the vanguard of a fight back that saw the home team wipe out a big first innings lead of 151 runs and Baroda now leads by 32 runs with eight second innings wickets remaining.

The opening pair in Connor Williams and Satyajit Parab gave Baroda a splendid start, raising 102 runs for the first wicket. The fact that Parab is batting on two runs short of his fourth century of the season and also that its middle order is in tact must give the home team a hope to wrest the initiative on the fourth day and force the final to a fitting and thrilling finish on Monday.

What however should cause concern to both the teams, Railways in particular, is the pit-like appearance of the pitch near the fuller length areas. Should the surface crumble near the good length area, Railways might have a task in hand on the fifth day.

The Central Zone team's bowling was depleted to an extent by the injury to off-spinner Kulamani Parida, who might have been useful on a breaking surface. An unintended beamer from fast bowler Zaheer Khan struck his bottom hand which is also his bowling hand. Parida, who was sent for medical attention, returned to field in the post tea session and is expected to bowl on Sunday.

The third day began with Murali Kartik and Parida resuming their innings not in a confident manner. They gave an opportunity for Baroda to force a breakthrough in the very first ball of the day. But Tushar Arothe's `direct-hit' attempt missed the stumps at the bowlers end. A scampering Parida was yards out after playing straight to Arothe at cover. This lapse cost Baroda dear. The ninth-wicket pair stretched their partnership by another hour and fifteen minutes before off-spinner Bhoite put an end to Kartik's resistance.

Kartik's 79 in three hours and seven minutes with seven fours became the highest score in the first innings for both the sides. He and Parida managed to build a partnership that produced 113 runs from a precarious 246 for eight. Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan once again failed in his first spell in which he conceded 26 runs. At the other end left-arm spinner Valmik Buch turned out to be economical, but did not take a wicket. This forced Martin to toss the ball to Bhoite, who had broken the third wicket stand on Friday.

Baroda frustrated

For Baroda, it had been a frustrating experience after having dismissed eight Railways batsmen for 246 runs. Baroda's misery did not come to an end even after Kartik's exit because Parida and Harvinder Singh punished the spinners - Bhoite and Buch - hitting them straight for towering sixes. Martin once again turned to Khan, who struck body blows on Parida. The doughty all- rounder was hit on his bottom hand and immediately on his left ankle, trying to dig out a yorker length deliver. Parida, finally, perished trying to clear the long on fence, after making a weighty contribution of 47. The Railways tail had wagged for more than three hours. Kartik, Parida and Harvinder together made 143 runs.

It was another hot day, but a light breeze after tea interval provided some comfort. Baroda was quietly happy to have finally seen the end of the Railways first innings. It had reason to be even more pleased after its openers, Williams and Parab, kept the Railways seamers, Harvinder and Sanjay Bangar at bay. Parab was keen and determined to make amends. He had fallen a victim, first ball, on the first day of the final. Baroda was in dire straits after his exit, it lost Mongia and Martin inside the first hour.

Parab was composed and assured and gave a better and brighter start in the second innings. His partner, left-hander William, was willing to play second fiddle and let Parab provide the thrust. The result of Parab's aggressive outlook was Baroda progressing at four runs an over. For a team, behind by 151 runs in the first innings, it was a fabulous start. Parab did not take chances against the persevering Bangar, who bowled fifteen overs on the trot and conceded only 29 runs.

But there were opportunities to score for Parab and Williams off the left-arm spinners Kartik and Tejinderpal Singh, who was not effective bowling to a negative line, over the wicket and wide of the crease. Williams, who made a couple of fluent straight and cover drives, fell to Tejinderpal much against the run of play, edging to Bangar at first slip. He made only 41 in the stand of 102, but the century-plus stand helped Baroda to cancel out two thirds of the deficit.

Railways' skipper Abhay Sharma made things a little more difficult for Parab, Nayan Mongia and Martin in the last two hours. He kept a seven-two field, packing the fielders on the off-side. Mongia tried to break free, but after finding the gap between mid-off and cover-point for a four off Harvinder, he hit Kartik down the throat of Harvinder at long off.

But Martin batted without taking any risks for nearly one hour. And Parab, too, did not show any urgency to complete his century. Parab and Martin have added 40 for the undefeated third wicket. This pair could turn out to be a make-or-mar pair for Baroda on Sunday.

The scores:

Baroda - 1st innings: 243

Railways - 1st innings: Amit Pagnis b Patel 7, Sanjay Bangar c Jadhav b Khan 62, Tejinderpal Singh lbw b Bhoite 67, Yere Goud c Martin b Buch 65, Abhay Sharma lbw b Khan 8, Shreyas Khanolkar c Bhoite b Patel 4, Santosh Sahu lbw b Buch 0, Sudhir Wankhede lbw b Khan 14, Murali Kartik st Mongia b Bhoite 79, Kulamani Parida c Pathan b Buch 47, Harvinder Singh (not out) 17, Extras (lb-11, nb-13) 24, Total (in 135 overs) 394.

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-108, 3-196, 4- 206, 5-216, 6-221, 7-240, 8-246, 9-359.

Baroda bowling: Khan 37-9-92-3, Patel 25.2-9-49-2, Pathan 15.4-1- 85-0, Buch 39-15-86-3, Bhoite 16-1-64- 2, Arothe 2-0-7-0.

Baroda - 2nd innings: Connor Williams c Bangar b Tejinderpal 41, Satyajit Parab (batting) 98, Nayan Mongia c Harvinder b Kartik 15, Jacob Martin (batting) 9, Extras (b-5, lb- 2, nb-13) 20, Total (for two wkts. in 66 overs) 183.

Fall of wickets: 1-102, 2-143.

Railways bowling: Harvinder 12-2-35-0, Bangar 17-7-35-0, Kartik 21-4-55-1, Khanolkar 1-0-6-0, Tejinderpal 15-0-45-1.

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