Advantage Rajasthan in Ranji Trophy final

Baroda captain Pinal Shah and coach Mukesh Narula must have felt the importance of having an experienced batsman in the side on Thursday.

The absence of Rakesh Solanki and Yusuf Pathan in the line-up for the final can cost them dear.

The home team decided to play uncapped Abhijit  Karambelkar ahead of out of form Solanki.

At stumps on Day Three, Baroda were 324 for 8 in response to Rajasthan’s first innings total of 394.

An unbeaten ninth wicket stand of 36 between Sankalp Vohra (16 off 59b) and Murtuja Vahora (21 off 34b) kept Baroda in the fray.

Resuming at 73/1, the home team made steady progress through Jaikishan Kolsawala (64 off 151b; 12x4) and Kedar Devdhar (19 off 74b; 4x4). Pankaj Singh, the second leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy this year, failed to impress. Kolsawala gracefully dispatched the pacer into the advertising boards to complete his half-century.

Rajasthan captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar deployed off-spinner Madhur Khatri and Pankaj in the morning without much luck. Their fortunes, however, changed when Vivek Yadav (4/73) was introduced. A double strike in a span of three overs put Baroda on the back foot. Kolsawala edged to wicketkeeper Rohit Jhalani and Devdhar dragged one poor delivery on to the stumps.

Promoted in the batting order, Aditya Waghmode (52 off 138b; 7x4) displayed a cool head on young shoulders but seasoned Ambati Rayudu (12) failed to live up to the expectations. Deepak Chahar, bowling his first over of the day, trapped Rayudu in front of the wickets. When lunch was taken, Baroda were 148/4, desperately in need of a partnership.

They got it when Pinal (77 off 99b; 7x4, 2x6) and Waghmode, stuck to the basics and batted as per the merit of the balls. They put on 90 runs for the fifth wicket. Waghmode showed youth, and Pinal demonstrated experience. Playing his second first class match, Waghmode completed his maiden half-century.

But the southpaw’s over aggression was curtailed by Yadav. An uppish shot was plucked by acrobatic Kanitkar inches off the ground.

Swapnil Singh (17 off 54b) paid a penalty trying to pull Pankaj Singh out of the ground. Vineet Saxena held on to a skyer. Pinal, going steady at the other end with a half-century, felt the pressure. Distracted with Swapnil’s blunder, Pinal failed to read a Chahar delivery and was adjudged leg-before.

A few minutes later, Karambelkar was sent back before he could open his first class account.

Baroda dressing room songs changed from romantic to melancholy as the home team was reduced from 266/5 to 288/8. However, Vohra and Vahora tormented the tired Rajasthan bowlers with an unbeaten 36 runs off 14 overs.

“We just hope to carry on tomorrow (Friday) also. It is going to be a tight match. We will have to chase and we are ready for it,” said Pinal Shah.