Zaheer, Martin put Baroda in command

Hyderabad are fighting a grim battle against Baroda after the hosts piled up a record 673 in their first innings and established a mamoth lead of 383 on the third day of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the GSFC ground, in Baroda, on Thursday.

Hyderabad, needing to score 299 to make Baroda bat again, were gasping at 84 for the loss of eight wickets in their second innings at close of play.

The visitors had made 290 in their first innings.

V V S Laxman (31) and S Vishnu Vardhan (16) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

Zaheer Khan wrecked havoc in the Hyderabad second innings as he scalped five wickets for 30 runs.

Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 327 for loss of three wickets, Baroda piled up 673, with skipper Jacob Martin scoring an epic 271, which contained 37 sizzling hits to the fence and two towering sixes.

Martin's 110-run sixth wicket stand with Atul Bedade and 123-run eighth wicket partnership with Rakesh Patel helped Baroda to amass the huge total.

S Vishnu Vardhan was the most successful bowler as he captured six wickets, conceding 148 runs.

Lahiri's claims 6 as Bengal take first innings lead

Spinner Sourashish Lahiri produced a dream spell to help Bengal clinch a vital 32-run first innings lead on the third day of their Ranji Trophy qaurter final against Gujarat at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday.

Lahiri virtually ripped through the Gujarat middle order to return with an impressive haul of six wickets for 73 runs as the Gujarat first innings folded up at 321 at the fag end of the day.

Resuming at their overnight score of 161 for two, Kirat Damani struck a valiant 118 but none of the other Gujarat batsmen could hang around for long as wickets kept falling at regular intervals, spoiling all the good work the visitors had done yesterday.

The lanky Lahiri turned the spotlight on himself with a fine exhibition of spin bowling and put the hosts in the driver's seat by dismissing overnight batsman Hem Jashipura (63) without allowing him to add a single run to his tally.

The departure of Jashipura triggered off the collapse as none of the other batsmen could negotiate Lahiri and some tight bowling from the seasoned Utpal Chatterjee from the other end put more pressure on the visitors.

India captain Sourav Ganguly did not take the field due to a slight fever but did come to the ground after the tea break to see his teammates secure the first innings lead.

Bengal were two for no loss in their second innings at close with Amitava Chakraborty (1) and Deep Dasgupta (0) playing out the three overs.

Bangar's unbeaten 211 gives Railways lead

Railways moved closer to a second successive semi-final berth as the hosts, propelled by an unbeaten 211 by Sanjay Bangar, gained a crucial 143-run first innings lead over Tamil Nadu on the third day of the Ranji trophy quarter-final in Delhi on Thursday.

Resuming at their overnight score of 179 for five, Railways' innings prospered around Bangar as he effortlessly warded off the feeble challenge from the Tamil Nadu bowlers and helped the hosts score 419 for nine by close.

Tamil Nadu had scored 276 in their first knock.

Tamil Nadu's bowlers got their first breakthrough when L Balaji, who impressed with his pace and movement, sent overnight not out batsman J P Yadav's (32) off stump for a walk with a sharp off-cutter.

Railways lost their eigth wicket soon after lunch when Ashish Kapoor trapped Sudhir Wankhede plumb in front while the batsman attempted a rash across the line shot.

However, the delight of the Tamil Nadu players soon made way for despair as Murali Kartik and Bangar blunted the bowling with ease on their way to a crucial 167-run eighth wicket stand.

Bangar, who reached his 100 with a single off Ashish Kapoor, continued to toy with a stingless Tamil Nadu attack as he belted Ramkumar for a six over long-on followed by a scorching hit to the fence through covers which reminded the TN bowlers that they were waging a lost battle.

Bangar reached his maiden double hundred soon after tea with an audacious drive to the ropes off Ramkumar as the entire Railways camp gave him a satnding ovation.

Punjab comfortably placed against Orissa

Punjab enhanced their chances of reaching the last four of the Ranji Trophy, as they consolidated their grip on the quarter-final match against Orissa on Thursday at Mohali.

Resuming at their overnight 127 for one, Punjab, who already enjoy a seven-run first innings lead, finished the third day of the five-day match at 357 for six in their second knock.

Half-centuries from Yuvraj Singh (50), Dinesh Mongia (51) and A Kakkar (batting 50) helped Punjab score 230 runs during the day and put them 364 runs ahead of Orissa with four wickets remaining.

Pankaj Dharmani also chipped in with 41.

At stumps Harbhajan Singh was unbeaten on 43 with Kakkar.

The highlight of the day was the solid strokeplay by Mongia, who is fresh from an impressive show in the one-dayers against England. Mongia also completed 3000 runs in Ranji tournament during the course of his innings.

For Orissa, speedster Debasish Mohanty was the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 65 runs. Sanjay Raul, P Jaychandra and Bipin Singh took a wicket each.

Punjab scored 207 in their first innings and restricted Orissa to 200.

Earlier reports:
Day 2 round-up: Martin, Williams put Baroda in command
Day 1 round-up: Sanyal rallies Bangal; Laxman props Hyderabad

Mail Cricket Editor