Mongia saves the day for Baroda

Mumbai failed to deliver the knock out punch to Baroda, as Baroda managed to hold out Mumbai to a Draw in the West Zone Ranji match at MIG, Bandra on Tuesday. Baroda ended the day at 360 for nine off 112 overs chasing a target of 464. The hosts took away five points and the visitors fought hard for their three.

Mumbai began the day needing nine wickets for an outright victory and Baroda needed to survive 90 overs. The latter doing the same on a match saving innings by stumper Mongia. Nayan Mongia proved the hero of the day battling for 203 minutes for his unbeaten 41 runs. He played 117 balls with seven hits to the fence. Mongia and Valmik Buch added 48 runs off 12.3 overs for a crucial eighth wicket partnership. Buch lost his nerve in the 107th over and called for a non existing single, Mongia sent him back but it was too late as an accurate throw from Paras Mhambrey caught him short of his ground.

Zaheer Khan joined Mongia at the fall of Buch's wicket. He hung around for 3.4 overs and looked to save the game. Mumbai bowlers toiled the whole day but were unable top get the break throughs. The turning point of the match was provided by Sachin Tendulkar who bowled the second last over of the day. He cleaned out Zaheer on the first ball, turning the tables around for Mumbai. It became a question of getting one wicket for Mumbai and surviving eleven balls for Baroda. Last man Sukhbir Singh held his nerve and Mongia saw the last over through to guide Baroda to a draw.

Earlier in the day, Baroda resuming on 75 for one at the start on play on the last day were comfortably placed at 249 for five off 79 overs at the tea interval. Opener Connor Williams played a patient and sensible innings. He scored 81 off 193 balls. One drop Himanshu Jadhav was the other steady contributor to the Baroda score card.

Jadhav's 41 came off 110 balls. Tushar Arothe chipped in with 59 off 100 balls. Ajit Agarkar had figures of three for 66, Robin Morris was the pick of the bowlers bagging four for 64 in the second innings. Morris ended with match figures of eight for 91.

Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the Man of the Match award by MCA president Manohar Joshi at the prize distribution ceremony.