Baroda require 32 more runs to score victory over Punjab in a crucial Elite group 'B' Ranji Trophy match at the Motibag Ground on the third day of the match.

- Ranji Trophy 2005-06: Complete coverage

At close of play, Baroda were 73 runs for loss of four wickets.

When the hosts came to bat for the second time, they required 105 runs to score victory over Punjab. However, they lost wickets of Connor Williams, Kiran Powar and Pinal Shah when the scoreboard read 26.

It was fourth wicket partnership of 27 runs between captain Jacob Martin and Rakesh Solanki, which took Baroda's total to 53 runs. Martin failed to read a good delivery from Harvinder Singh and gave a catch to Uday Kaul.

Himanshu Jadhav who came to the crease at the fall of Martin's wicket, gave a good stand to Solanki who was scoring the runs on loose deliveries.

The unbeaten fifth wicket stand of 20 runs between Solanki and Jadhav took the Baroda total to 73 at the close of play.

Gagandeep Singh took two vital wickets of Williams and Powar by giving 16 runs.

Earlier, Punjab resumed at overnight total of 69 for loss of five wickets, both the not out batsmen R Sodhi and Uday Kaul took the total to 151 runs when Kaul was brilliantly caught behind off the bowling of Rakesh Patel.

The 87 runs sixth-wicket partnership between Sodhi and Kaul changed the situation and put Punjab in a respectable position.

They not only denied Baroda the bonus point but also put them under pressure. Sodhi in his 160 minutes stay at the crease, scored 56 runs with five fours and a six.

Zaheer Khan and Rakesh Patel failed to take advantage of the dew this morning.

However, Patel captured two wickets that fell today while Zaheer took one wicket taking his tally to six wickets for 72 runs.

Baroda hopes for a good batting performance from Solanki, Jadhav, Yusuf Khan Pathan and Zaheer Khan.

Scorecard:

Punjab 2nd innings
RS Ricky c Jadhav b Khan 18
Muneesh Sharma c Pathan b Khan 4
D Mongia b Khan 10
P Dharmani b Khan 11
RS Sodhi c Solanki b Pathan 56
G Gupta c Shah b Khan 8
U Kaul c Shah b Patel 34
A Uniyal lbw b Pawar 35
Gagandeep Singh c Pathan b Khan 24
Rajesh Sharma lbw b Pawar 10
HS Sandhu not out 5
Extras (b 10, lb 4, nb 7) 21
Total (all out, 82.3 overs) 236

FoW: 1-15, 2-33, 3-44, 4-53, 5-64, 6-151, 7-166, 8-204, 9-217, 10-236.

Bowling
Khan 20.3-5-72-6 (3nb)
Patel 26-7-82-1 (3nb)
Pawar 18-4-35-2
Pathan 18-6-33-1 (1nb)

Baroda 2nd innings (Target: 105 runs)
CC Williams b Gagandeep Singh 2
P Shah lbw b Uniyal 14
KR Powar c Kaul b Gagandeep Singh 6
JJ Martin c Kaul b Sandhu 7
RK Solanki not out 24
HR Jadhav not out 6
Extras (b 6, lb 1, w 5, nb 2) 14
Total (4 wickets, 27 overs) 73

To Bat: RV Pawar, RB Patel, YK Pathan, AP Bhoite, Z Khan.

FoW: 1-12, 2-20, 3-26, 4-53.

Bowling
Gagandeep Singh 11-5-16-2
Sandhu 9-0-24-1 (1nb)
Uniyal 7-2-26-1 (1nb, 1w)