Railways playing in their second Ranji Trophy final took the honours
on the first day against the hosts Baroda at the Gujarat State
Fertilizer Corporation Ground, Baroda, on Thursday. At close of play
they were 91/1 after bowling out Baroda for a low score of 243.
Jacob Martin won the toss for Baroda and elected to bat first. On a
pitch that had a greenish look to it, Martin was left with no choice
but to rely on his frontline batsmen to deliver the goods. Railways
took the opportunity with both hands as Harvinder Singh had SS Parab
caught behind by Abhay Sharma off the first ball of the match.
An inspired spell by the opening bowlers Harvinder Singh and Sanjay
Bangar saw Nayan Mongia (4) and Martin (0) making their way back to
the pavilion, after having failed to apply themselves to the task.
Baroda were reduced to 30/3 in the 11th over.
CC Williams and TB Arothe rose to the occasion and put together 77
runs for the fourth wicket. Arothe was more adventurous in his stay in
the middle, cracking seven boundaries and a six to score 52 valuable
runs. Arothe was severe on Murali Kartik smashing him for sixes and
fours in gay abandon. He was brilliantly caught by a diving Khanolkar
off Harvinder Singh.
In the meanwhile the Railways skipper and wicket keeper Abhay Sharma
was felled by a sharp bouncing delivery from Kartik that beat the
batsman all ends up. Sharma had to go off the field to get urgent
medical attention as he had a bad cut on his face. Sharma was brave
enough to come back to the field to lead his men as SV Wankhede kept
the gloves on, standing behind the stumps.
Off spinner Kulamani Parida struck a double blow in the 44th over. He
sent back Williams who had made 65 patient runs with the help of seven
strokes past the ropes. A couple of balls later he trapped a
struggling HR Jadhav (12) in front of the wicket. Baroda's hopes of
reaching 200 looked remote at that stage after having lost 6 wickets
for just 150 runs.
AP Bhoite and RB Patel (16) added 69 precious runs for the seventh
wicket. Patel was caught by Kartik at second slip off Bangar. Bhoite's
pyrotechnics provided the home crowd with something to cheer about. He
struck two sixes and eight boundaries in making 57 runs.
Baroda's innings folded for 243 runs off just 64.1 overs, a dismal
batting performance after electing to bat first. Kartik was smashed
all around the park as his 12 overs cost his team 70 runs including 12
no-balls. Harvinder Singh (4/59) and Bangar (3/55) shared the bowling
honours.
Railways had their task cut out to score 244 runs and gain the vital
first innings lead. Amit Pagnis (7) was bowled by Rakesh Patel after a
brief stay in the middle. Pagnis kept walking all over his crease
getting beaten more often than putting bat on ball. Shuffling too much
to the off side and finding himself in a knot in many an occasion, his
misery was put out by Patel, sending the leg stump for a cartwheel.
That was the only success Baroda could show after the first day's
play. Zaheer Khan, the India international, failed to make an
impression, bowling way too short and outside the off stump. The young
Irfan Pathan too failed miserably bowling too short. Patel was the
only bowler who looked good enough as he beat the bat of SS Bangar
(21) and TP Singh (60) repeatedly.
The two batsmen have added 74 runs for the unfinished second wicket
partnership. Singh's knock has been a revelation of sorts as he went
about striking the ball with such conviction. He has so far faced just
58 balls, striking nine boundaries and two sixes. Baroda's hopes rest
on their fast bowlers, who will have to produce a dream spell in the
morning session tomorrow.