Vadodara 155 runs away from victory against UP

Vadodara, Jan 4 (UNI) Hosts Vadodara, with nine wickets in hand, were only 155 runs away from victory against Uttar Pradesh at close on the penultimate day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match at the IPCL Sports Complex here today.

Vadodara, who took a 39-run first innings lead earlier in the day by folding up their innings at 308, bundled out the defending champions for 210 in their second essay in just 59.1 overs, thus setting an easy target of 172 for an outright victory.

When stumps were drawn for the day, Vadodara were 17 for the loss of the prized wicket of Satyajit Parab (4), who hit 113 with 16 fours in the hosts first innings. Facing only six balls Parab was run out by Ratnesh Mishra in the very second over because of his partner Connor William's fault.

The pace bowlers vitually made the batsmen of both sides dance to their tunes today as they had the lions share of 12 of the 16 wickets that tumbled during the days play.

While young Praveen Kumar helped Uttar Pradesh restrict Vadodara first innings to 308 with a fine 6-wicket haul, Vadodara medium pacer Rakesh Patel displayed a superb bowling performance to dismiss Uttar Pradesh in their second innings at 210 with a fine 5-wicket haul. This was Patel's third 5-wicket haul in the current season after achieving the feat against Karnataka and Haryana.

Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 259 for 5, Vadodara were able to secure a paltry first innings lead of 39 runs against UP as they lost their remaining five wickets in just half-an-hour adding only 49 runs. Praveen Kumar claimed 6 for 83 in his 38.5 overs.

Irfan Pathan, who was struggling to make a comeback to team India prior to the home series against West Indies, was first to go with his overnight score of 9 (35b). UP virtually fought their way back into the game with brilliant bowling display by Praveen Kumar, who struck again in the same over dismissing Ajit Bhoite for zero as Vadodara folded up at 308 in 117.5 overs in reply to UP's 269.

The visitors, who lost two quick second innings wickets with 9 runs on the board, failed to capitalise on an 80-run third wicket partnership between opener Rohit Srivastava (58, 9x4) and Ali Murtaza (45, 7x4) and collapsed at 210 being unable to face the fiery pace attack of Rakesh Patel, who finished with impressive figures of 20-6-75-5. While left arm spinner snared 2 for 46, Irafan Pathan was again disappointed as his figures read 13-1-59-1.

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