Martin's ton secures sizable lead for Baroda

Jacob Martin gave a timely reminder to the selectors that his appetite for runs remains undiminished as Baroda secured a 139 run first innings lead over Punjab on the third day of their Super League tie at Mohali today. By stumps Punjab had wiped off 84 runs from the deficit in 33 overs.

Martin and captain Tushar Arothe took their overnight stand for the 4th wicket to 139 before Arothe was sent back for 61. Atul Bedade did not last long and Martin himself followed soon after for 118 (262 balls, 14 fours). AP Bhoite and M Mewada put on 60 but when Mewada was seventh out at 380 the innings entered terminal decline. The last four wickets were snapped up in the space of 15 balls for the addition of only four runs as Baroda folded up for 384. Punjab's new ball bowler Gagandeep Singh returned figures of 4-65 and Harbhajan Singh claimed 3-101.

Although Ravneet Ricky (2) was leg before to Zakir Khan in the third over, Vikram Rathour (46) and Reetinder Sodhi (30) prevented any further anxiety for Punjab with an unbroken stand of 72.