JOIN USRayudu, Chauhan slam tons
Baroda made Delhi rue their decision to bowl on an unresponsive surface for the second consecutive day as they remorselessly feasted on the bowling to compile 525 for seven at the end of day’s play in Ferozeshah Kotla stadium on Sunday.
Baroda lost four wickets on the day but continued to hurt Delhi with timely partnerships. Delhi bowlers tried hard but soon ran out of ideas as the visitors studiously applied themselves in all the three sessions.
Delhi, in all, took three new balls, yet found little going their way. After overnight batsmen Ambati Rayudu (131 runs, 232 balls, 22x4) and Abhimanyu Chauhan (113, 248b, 18x4) reached their centuries and raised 213 runs for the fourth wicket, Baroda briefly lost their way post lunch with quick losses.
However, an unbeaten 126-run stand for the eight wicket between Ketan Panchal and Gangandeep Singh Natt snuffed out Delhi’s hopes of a revival. The two batted for nearly one and a half sessions to put their team firmly in control on the day.
At stumps, Panchal was batting at 72 (171b, 7x4, 3x6) and Natt 70 (130b, 7x4, 3x6).
The overnight batsmen, Rayudu and Chauhan, continued from where they had left and took little time to reach their hundreds. Chauhan got to the mark off a single while Rayudu drove to extra-cover for a boundary.
The morning hour ticked away fast and the two looked solid for 104 minutes going into the first session. Sumit Narwal separated the two when he bowled Chauhan. Rayudu was quick to follow him, Awana knocking the top of his leg stump. Baroda entered lunch at 351 for five.
After lunch, Kedar Devdhar (27) and Murtuza Vahora (11) left in quick intervals.
Devdhar’s hook off Awana was comfortably taken by Pawan Suyal at fine leg, while Rajat Bhatia’s delivery kept low and disturbed the bails of Vahora.
Biding time
Just when Delhi looked to like they were on a comeback trail, Panchal and Natt defied them. Both judiciously bided their time on their time and returned with some fluent drives to make light of Delhi’s bowling.
With the pitch offering invariable bounce, strokemaking was not an easy. But Panchal and Natt read the situation well and they went after the slow bowlers, heaving huge sixes.
Natt hit Bhatia for a six over the bowlers head to reach his half-century in style. It was Baroda all the way with Delhi left pondering their chances in the match.