Date:19/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111957652000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Baroda looks for a big win

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Baroda will explore every possibility to garner victory with a bonus point on the last day of its Ranji Trophy Super League match against Railways at the Karnail Singh Stadium here on Wednesday.

Resuming at 265 for three, Baroda declared at 460 for eight at the stroke of tea, giving the bowlers enough time to go for the kill. At close, Railways was 33 for no loss.

Overnight batsmen Connor Williams and Azhar Anjum Bilakhia continued their good work before the former fell for a responsible 137 off 285 balls with 13 fours and one six. His second wicket partnership with Bilakhia was worth 278 runs.

Rakesh Solanki fell without scoring and Bilakhia followed next for a disciplined 157 off 313 balls with 18 fours and one six.

Baroda suffered a middle-order collapse before Shatrunjay Gaekwad (47 off 122 balls with three fours) and Irfan Pathan (40 off 52 balls with four fours and two sixes) added 50 runs for the sixth wicket to increase the lead.

Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik and leg-spinner Karan Sharma took three wickets each to contain the Baroda batsmen.

“The spinners did a good job for us,” said Railways coach Abhay Sharma.

The scores:

Railways — 1st innings: 224.

Baroda — 1st innings: Satyajit Parab lbw b Sanyal 28, Connor Williams c Bangar b Karan 137, Azhar Anjum Bilakhia lbw b Kartik 157, Rakesh Solanki c Sanyal b Kartik 0, Pinal Shah c Harvinder b Karan 9, Shatrunjay Gaekwad c Goud b Karan 47, Irfan Pathan c Pagnis b Kartik 40, Ketan Panchal lbw b Kartik 9, Rajesh Pawar (not out) 24, Extras (b-1, lb-3, nb-3, w-2) 9, Total (for eight wkts decl in 153 overs) 460.

Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-325, 3-328, 4-329, 5-349, 6-399, 7-417, 8-460.

Railways bowling: Harvinder Singh 23-1-91-0, Sanjay Bangar 31-6-93-0, Sanjib Sanyal 7-0-35-1, Kulamani Parida 31-6-104-1, Murali Kartik 33-5-78-3, Karan Sharma 28-4-55-3.

Railways — 2nd innings: Amit Pagnis (batting) 18, Sanjay Bangar (batting) 15, Total (for no loss in 21 overs) 33.

Baroda bowling: Irfan Pathan 7-1-14-0, Salim Veragi 7-3-16-0, Rajesh Pawar 4-4-0-0, Utkarsh Patel 3-2-3-0.