Baroda’s left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt is one of those few who have made the transition from under-22 to Ranji Trophy look easy.
The 20-year-old became the leading wicket-taker in the tournament this season on the second day of the title match against Rajasthan at Moti Baug ground here on Wednesday.
Bhargav’s (5/103) fourth five-for of the season not only saw his tally swelling to 45, at less than 19-run-a-piece, but was also crucial in restricting Rajasthan to 394. Pankaj Singh, spearheading the visitors attack, is placed second with 41 wickets.
When the stumps were drawn on the second day, the home team was 73/1 in its first essay. Resuming the day at 198/3, Rajasthan made steady progress. In fact, compared to the first session on the previous day, second day’s morning session was more eventful.
Vivek Yadav (27 off 56b; 4x4) went after Baroda bowlers while Robin Bist (77 off 228b; 5x4, 1x6) continued his sedate innings. But trying an over ambitious agriculture shot, Yadav fell to Bhatt, becoming his 42nd wicket of the championship.
A few overs later, Bhatt bowled a delivery of the match that dismantled Bist’s furniture. The ball that pitched outside the leg stump crashed into the off-stump, a left-arm spinners’ delight.
RR Parida (56 off 121b; 8x4) and Ashok Menaria (45 off 59b; 6x4, 1x6) did some damage control and took the score to near 350.
The duo slammed a few boundaries off Bhatt but the spinner was confident of giving it back. “In U-22, if you bowl a few bad balls you get away with it but here it is a different story. One bad ball and you are whacked,” said Bhatt before adding, “I stuck to basics and got wickets. I didn’t try to experiment.”
Bhatt mixed his deliveries well and got the reward when Kedar Devdhar picked a bat-pad catch offered by Menaria. The bowler completed a well deserved five-wicket haul uprooting Parida, the last Rajasthan batsman to get out.
When Baroda came in to bat, it was another youngster who showed his skills. Jaikishan Kolsawala (21), opening with Connor Williams (37), began the home team’s reply with a 63-run stand.
Williams fell to leg-spinner Yadav after making 17, but Kolsawala, with nine delightful boundaries, stood firm till the end of day’s play. He has Devdhar at the other end.
