Baroda score innings victory

Defending champions Baroda beat hosts Saurashtra by an innings and 184 runs in the West Zone Ranji Tophy league, at RMC grounds in Rajkot on Saturday.

Resuming at their overnight score of 82 for 7, Saurashtra were forced to follow-on after they were all out for 115 in the first innings while replying to Baorda's huge first innings score of 509.

Only two Saurashtra batsmen, Kotak (28) and vice-captain Prakash Bhatt (22) managed double digit scores.

For Baroda, leading left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan returned the best figures, taking five wickets for 25 runs.

Rakesh Patel and Yusuf Pathan took two wickets each, giving away 26 and 42 runs respectively.

Following-on, Saurashtra put up a better show with opener Sujit Somsundar coming up with a fighting 57. His fine innings came to an end when Zaheer Khan trapped him in front.

Middle order batsman Reuben Paul (45) and Bhatt (44) again came up with useful knocks but the trio could not save their team from an innings defeat.

Ajit Bhoite took four wickets while Zaheer Khan and H Bacchani bagged two wickets each.

The only solace for Saurashtra came in the form of five penalty runs in the first innings after former India stumper Nayan Mongia was caught wearing shoes with spikes that damaged the wicket.

Zaheer also delivered another blow, when Saurashtra opener Prashant Joshi was injured by his bouncer and could not bat in both innings.

Baroda secured eight points from the victory.

Mail Cricket Editor