Bengal face herculean task against Baroda

Baroda's dominance over Bengal continued well into the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy pre quarterfinal match at the Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation Ground in Baroda on Tuesday. Having reduced the visitors Bengal to 247, a first innings lead of 220 runs, Baroda did not deem in necessary to enforce the follow on, and by batting again scored 354, a lead of 574 in all.

Resuming at 133 for 2, Baroda's overnight batsmen SS Parab (56) and JJ Martin (54) kept a good pace in the scoring the runs. By the time Martin fell in the 59th over of the innings, the third wicket partnership was worth 93 runs. During a 148-minute stay at the crease, Martin faced 126 balls and hit nine fours. Parab followed him soon in the 63rd over falling for a catch to Srikkanth Kalyani off Utpal Chatterjee. Parab was in the middle for 278 minutes, faced 175 balls and hit eight boundaries.

Thereafter AP Bhoite (50) with the help of some useful partnerships took the score along to 253 when he finally fell for a catch to Nikhil Haldipur off AK Das. But when Bengal thought the innings would be closed, Valmick Buch came up with a blinder, hitting 50 runs off just 45 balls with the help of ten boundaries and one that cleared the fence.

Set to score a mammoth 575 for a win, Bengal were off to a bad start losing Alokendu Lahari (5) in the fifth over of the innings. Lahari departed to a return catch to Rakesh Patel. His partner Nikhil Haldipur (21) joined him soon in the confines of the pavilion. Haldipur was caught by Connor Williams off Irfan Pathan. Then just before stumps, veteran Srikkanth Kalyani was bowled by Pathan after taking the score along to 92 with Rohan Gavaskar (39 not out) for company. Gavaskar and wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta (0) took the team to stumps.