Date:18/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/18/stories/2008111857132000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Williams and Bilakhia slam hundreds

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Railways camp ended up cursing the pitch even as Baroda batsmen Connor Williams and Azhar Anjum Bilakhia thrived on it to dominate the second day’s play in the Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Karnail Singh Stadium here on Monday.

At close, Baroda was 265 for one in reply to Railways’ first innings total of 224.

Williams and Bilakhia scored a century each as Baroda tormented the Railways attack with some purposeful batting.

Even as the pitch showed no inclination to help the bowlers, Williams and Bilakhia did not lose their composure and played the ball on merit to put Baroda in a commanding position.

Contrasting ways

Williams loves to grind the attack. Bilakhia likes to belt it. Their knocks were in sharp contrast but the construction had a common goal — a possible victory.

With the Railway bowlers wilting in the afternoon, Williams and Bilakhia drove with impeccable timing.

Good pitch

“It was a nice pitch to bat on today,” confessed Williams. But Railways coach Abhay Sharma slammed the playing surface.

“It was poor and not to our expectations,” he observed.

Williams, who batted 247 balls, hit ten fours and a six while Bilahia, in his 264-ball show, has so far hit 15 fours and one six.

The scores:

Railways — 1st innings: 224.

Baroda — 1st innings: Satyajit Parab lbw b Sanyal 28, Connor Williams (batting) 107, Azhar Anjum Bilakhia (batting) 127; Extras (lb-1, w-2) 3. Total (for one wkt in 91 overs) 265.

Fall of wicket: 1-47.

Railways bowling: Harvinder Singh 12-0-51-0, Sanjay Bangar 22-6-52-0, Sanjib Sanyal 5-0-25-1, Kulamani Parida 20-3-68-0, Murali Kartik 18-2-40-0, Karan Sharma 14-2-27-0.