da premier bet： Chasing a target of 223 for an outright win, Railways were91/4 at close of play on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophyfinal played at the Gujarat State Fertilizer CorporationGround, Baroda on Sunday
Santhosh S22-Apr-2001Chasing a target of 223 for an outright win, Railways were91/4 at close of play on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophyfinal played at the Gujarat State Fertilizer CorporationGround, Baroda on Sunday.Baroda started the day at their overnight score of 183/2.Satyajit Parab who was just two runs away from his century,got to the landmark without much fuss. Parab and Jacob Martinshowed scant respect for the railways bowling as they wentabout scoring runs freely.The two batsmen put together a partnership of 117 runs for thethird wicket. Parab was the third batsman to be dismissed,stumped by Abhay Sharma off the bowling of Murali Kartik. Hemade 141 runs off 265 balls with the help of 14 boundaries. Itwas a remarkable innings from Parab, given the fact that hewas given out caught behind off the very first ball of thematch.Tushar Arothe (21) paid the price for his flamboyance as heholed out to Bangar at long off , TP Singh claiming thewicket. Abhay Sharma took four catches behind the wicket asBaroda kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Zaheer Khan(19) helped Martin add 28 runs for the ninth wicket. Barodawere in search of valuable runs and Martin was closing on tohis hundred.The injured Rakesh Patel joined his skipper in the middle andwas gifted a shocker of a decision, given out caught at sillypoint. There was enough daylight between the bat and ball tosuggest that the decision was incorrect. Martin was strandedunbeaten on 87 (8 fours) and Baroda were all out for 373. TPSingh (4/87) and Sanjay Bangar (3/94) shared the bowlinghonours.Railways were set a reasonable target of 223 and with RakeshPatel not taking the field because of an injury, Baroda had tobank on their international player Zaheer Khan. Railways gotoff to a good start as Amit Pagnis and Sanjay Bangar kept themedium pacers at bay.For Baroda there was mixed emotions as the news trickled inabout the selection of the national probables. Nayan Mongiawas dropped, even ignoring his 181 & 53 against Orissa in theRanji semi-finals. The good news was that of the selection ofRakesh Patel who was been sorely missed in the middle.Harvinder Singh, the Railways medium pacer too found a placein the Indian probables.The introduction of spin from both ends on a track that isoffering a lot of turn and bounce to the slower bowlers didchange the course. Pagnis (31) gave a simple return catch toAjit Bhoite. In the following over Bangar (7) went back to anarm ball from Valmik Buch to be bowled.TP Singh (5) who played well in the first innings failed toimpress as he went for a big shot and skied an easy catch toZaheer Khan off the bowling of Bhoite. Skipper Abhay Sharma(17) played positively, striking the ball cleanly, but wasfound wanting as he edged a ball from Buch, CC Williamsstanding at gully took a one-handed catch, diving low to hisleft.There were a couple of catches dropped towards the end of theday which might cost Baroda dearly if Railways were to knockoff the 132 runs tomorrow. Yerre Goud (17*) and SudhirWankhede (11*) are at the crease. With the pitch taking turn,Buch and Bhoite could make life difficult for the Railwayswith the noisy close-in fielders going up in appeal for anypossible dismissal. The match could go either way tomorrow andthe team who would deal with the pressure better will emergeas the Ranji Trophy champions.