Baroda holds all the cards
Day Two of the Irani Trophy saw Baroda, hoping to build substantially on captain Connor Williams' century, fold within a matter of 20 overs
Staff Reporter
14-Oct-2001
Day Two of the Irani Trophy saw Baroda, hoping to build substantially
on captain Connor Williams' century, fold within a matter of 20 overs.
Williams became Tinu Yohannan's second wicket, caught behind for 143
with the score on 286.
From there, it was a matter of mopping up the tail, which Rest of
India did with little fanfare. Sarandeep Singh completed his fivewicket haul by having Rakesh Patel caught by Kanitkar and Valmik Buch
leg-before. Patel departed only after a flurry of strokes, giving him
44 off 66 balls with six fours and one six, enabled Baroda to cross
the 300-run mark. The innings finally folded at 318.
Rest of India started off with a 50-run opening partnership between
Vinayak Mane and Akash Chopra before the latter was caught by Buch off
the bowling of left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan for 22. Mane played
cautiously, circumscribing his usual aggression with a desire to build
an innings. The strokes were still there, though, notably in his seven
boundaries and a six.
VVS Laxman, hoping to use this fixture as invaluable match practice
before his departure to South Africa, disappointed himself, snared by
wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia off Buch for only 13. Hrishikesh Kanitkar
too did not remain for long, departing after scoring 2, caught by
Williams off Rakesh Patel.
Mane, witnessing the collapse from the other end, may have let it play
on his mind. With the score on 92, he found himself walking back to
the pavilion, LBW to Irfan Pathan. Rest of India found itself, at this
stage, in serious danger of losing the reins.
It took gritty batting efforts from Dinesh Mongia and Ajay Ratra to
bring them back. Mongia has to his name 47 from 111 balls and Ratra 35
from 87. Both remained unbeaten at the close of play and, being the
only two recognised batsmen remaining in the side, it will fall to
them on Day Three to convert their innings into ones capable of
turning the match around for Rest of India.