The Ranji Trophy tie between Baroda and Haryana is heading towards a thrilling finish with the hosts, needing 203 for victory, were 129 for five at stumps on the penultimate day in Baroda on Wednesday.

At close of play, captain Jacob Martin was batting on 29 and giving him company was Ajit Bhoite.

Baroda still need 74 runs to win and keep their hope alive for a semi-final berth in the knock-out stage of the tournament.

Earlier, resuming at 89 for 2, Haryana were bundled out for 210 in their second innings soon after lunch.

Medium pacer Rakesh Patel was pick of the Baroda bowling, taking five for 54 and restricting the visitors from amassing a big total.

He was well supported by spinners Rajesh Pawar and Ajit Bhoite, who took two wickets each.

Haryana captain Joginder Sharma faced the combined might of Patel, Pawar and Bhoite and scored 54, punctuated with three sixes and four boundaries.

Sharma added 63 runs for the eight wicket with Amit Mishra to help take his team's total past 200-mark.

Scorecard

Haryana 1st innings 171

Baroda 1st innings 169

Haryana 2nd innings:
Sumit Sharma LBW Rakesh Patel 45
Ankit Rawat LBW Bhoite 18
M Rawat LBW Rakesh Patel 12
Deepak Joon C Rakesh Patel b Pawar 12
Sachin Rana C Rakesh Solanki Bhoite 26
Sunny Singh B Rakesh Patel 02
Sandeep Singh B Rakesh Patel 05
Joginder Sharma run out (Rakesh Solanki) 54
Amit Mishra LBW Rakesh Patel 26
Gaurav Vashisht C Bholite Pawar 00
Sanjay Budhwar not out 00

Extras: (LB2, NB8) 10

Total: (all out in 78.5 overs ) 210

Fall of wickets : 1/39, 2/66, 3/90, 4/90, 5/96, 6/106, 7/142, 8/205, 9/210, 10/210.

Bowling: Rakesh Patel 23-3-54-5, Ketan Panchal 4-1-09-0, Rajesh Pawar 31.5-11-77-2, Bhoite 18-4-59-2, Dishant Mehta 2-0-09-0.

Baroda 2nd innings:
C Williams Hit Wicket Amit Mishra 33
Satyajit Parab Lbw Amit Mishra 35
Rakesh Solanki C A Rawat B G Vashisht 05
J Martin batting 29
S Gaekwad Lbw Amit Mishra 05
Ketan Panchal St M Rawat B Amit Mishra 08
A Bhoite batting 00

Extras: (LB5, W3, NB6) 14

Total: (For 5 wickets in 51 overs) 129

Fall of wickets: 1/74, 2/75, 3/84, 4/98, 5/119.