The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Baroda faces an uphill task

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 24, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Baroda faces an uphill task

By Our Special Correspondent

BARODA, DEC. 23. Patience is a virtue while fighting back after losing the initiative. Baroda, left with no option but to win the battle session by session after conceding the first innings lead to an inspired Tamil Nadu, played with purpose today.

Coach Balwinder Sandhu, cracking the whip to redeem personal and team reputation following a disastrous first day in the Elite Group B Ranji Trophy tie, was still left shaking his head in despair at stumps on the second day at the Motibaug stadium.

Tamil Nadu, enjoying a 88-run cushion, added 183 in the second essay with timely contributions from the middle and lower order. Baroda lost two wickets off 8.2 overs in the second innings, chasing an improbable target of 272.

Sandhu's move to open with Rishikesh Parab didn't work as M. R. Shrinivas got through the batsman's defence. Makeshift No. 3 Milap Mewada was then sent back by R. Ramkumar. India opener Connor Williams survived a torrid spell from pace sensation Jesuraj, bowling round the wicket into the left-hander and supported by a packed slip cordon.

The match can still turn exciting if the home team batsmen rise to the challenge on a wicket easing with every session.

Making amends

Irfan Pathan Sr. made amends for his poor show on the first day with a three-wicket burst in Tamil Nadu's second innings, lopping off the top order. Rakesh Patel bent his back again, but suffered cramps after a seven-over opening spell.

Skipper Jacob Martin turned to spinners Yusuf Pathan (three for 43) and Rajesh Pawar (two for 34) for breakthroughs, but attempts to turn the tide were foiled by the Tamil Nadu middle-order, aided by the tail. Dinesh Kaarthick (32 off 53 balls) and S. Sharath (32 off 87) picked up runs against the spinners.

Tailenders C. Ganapathy (21) and R. Ramkumar (30) took the game away from Baroda with a 30-run stand and also showed up the batting deficiencies of specialists from both sides when 19 wickets fell to the fast bowlers on the opening day.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 152.

Baroda — 1st innings: C. Williams c Badrinath b Shrinivas 2, S. Parab b Jesuraj 1, R. Parab c Kaarthick b Jesuraj 0, J. Martin st. Kaarthick b Ramkumar 17, K. Powar c Anirudh b Jesuraj 4, M. Mewada lbw b Shrinivas 1, R. Pawar c Kaarthick b Jesuraj 20, Yusuf Pathan c Hemanth b Shrinivas 0, R. Patel c Sharath b Jesuraj 6, S. Joshi b Jesuraj 2, I. Pathan Sr. (not out) 0; Extras (lb-2, nb-4, w-5) 11; Total (in 32.1 overs) 64.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-5, 4-20, 5-29, 6-29, 7-30, 8-58, 9-63.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Jesuraj 10.1-5-12-6, Shrinivas 11-4-38-3, Ganapathy 3-1-5-0, Ramkumar 8-4-7-1.

Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: S. Anirudh lbw b Patel 0, S. Vidyut b Pathan Sr. 15, S. Badrinath c Mewada b Pathan Sr. 7, Hemanth Kumar c S. Parab b Yusuf 19, Shri Vasudeva Das c Mewada b Patel 11, D. Kaarthick b Yusuf 32, M. R. Shrinivas b Pawar 2, S. Sharath lbw b Pathan Sr. 32, C. Ganapathy b Yusuf 21, R. Ramkumar c (sub) Parmar b Pawar 30, Jesuraj (not out) 2; Extras (lb-4, b-4, nb-4) 12; Total (in 75.1 overs) 183.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-38, 4-57, 5-59, 6-108, 7-115, 8-144, 9-181.

Baroda bowling: Patel 11.3-4-25-2, Pathan Sr. 14-3-49-3, Joshi 12-3-24-0, Yusuf 19.1-3-43-3, Pawar 18.3-6-34-2.

Baroda — 2nd innings: R. Parab b Shrinivas 1, C. Williams (batting) 9, M. Mewada b Ramkumar 2; Extras (lb-1) 1; Total (for two wkts.) 13.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-13.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Jesuraj 4-2-6-0, Shrinivas 4-2-5-1, Ramkumar 0.2-0-1-1.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport