Baroda-AP match evenly poised

A middle order resurgence helped Baroda score 262 in the first innings against hosts Andhra, who were 57 for 3 at close on the penultimate day of the Elite B Group Ranji Trophy match in Ananthpur on Friday.

While Kiran Powar (53), Rakesh Solanki (65) and Yusuf Pathan (67) stabilised Baroda innings overcoming fine bowling by K S Shahbuddin's seven wicket haul, experienced Zaheer Khan struck early blows to claim three Andhra wickets at close.

Resuming at 58 for 4, Baroda overnight batsmen Kiran Powar and Rakesh Solanki added 124 runs for the fifth wicket while Yusuf Pathan came in to gather quick runs as the visitors coasted to 262 before Andhra speedster K S Shahbuddin returned with impressive figures of 7 for 83.

Powar struck a patient 53 with four hits to the fence in a space of 155 balls while his overnight partner Solanki was more enterprising hitting 65 off 118 balls with nine fours.

The duo had put Baroda innings back on rails and breathed life into the match, which was marred on the first two days by rains and inclement weather.

Yusuf Pathan accelerated the pace of scoring by a breezy 67 off 93 balls with 11 hits to the fence while Shahbuddin went on to pick all wickets with good bounce leaving one each to Kalyan Krishna, AG Praveen and Md Faiq.

Andhra innings started on a disappointing note as Zaheer Khan struck early and dismissed three batsmen, who tried to score in a fast pace and fell prey to the experienced Baroda.

A Verma (14) and Ambati Rayudu (17) were at the crease when stumps were drawn. Zaheer claimed 3 for 18 runs off the nine overs here bowled of which three were maidens.

Scorecard

Baroda 1st innings

C Williams c Prasad b Sahabuddin 6
S Parab c Prasad b Sahabuddin 10
I Sindhi lbw b Kalyankrishna 1
J Martin b Sahabuddin 3
K Powar lbw b Faiq 53
R Solanki b Praveen 65
Y Pathan c Prasad b Sahabuddin 76
R Pawar c Prasad b Sahabuddin 10
R Patel c Praveen b Sahabuddin 30
Z Khan c Rayudu b Sahabuddin 0
I Pathan not out 1

Extras (lb 4, w 1, nb 2) 7

Total (all out, 92.4 overs) 262

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-12, 3-18, 4-23, 5-127, 6-165, 7-189, 8-250, 9-250.

Bowling: Sahabuddin 29.4 8 83 7 (1nb, 1w), Kalyankrishna 21 4 64 1, Suresh 6 2 22 0, Praveen 17 5 30 1 (1nb), Faiq 13 1 42 1, Varma 4 1 13 0, BK Singh 2 0 4 0

Andhra 1st innings
T Suman c Sindhi b Khan 11
M Suresh c YK Pathan b Khan 9
A Varma (batting) 14
Y Gnaneswara Rao lbw b Khan 0
A Rayudu (batting) 17

Extras (b 1, lb 5) 6

Total (3 wickets, 22 overs) 57

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-26, 3-26

Bowling: Khan 9 3 18 3, Patel 8 3 21 0, Pawar 3 1 8 0, I Pathan 2 1 5 0