Splendid batting by Rakesh Solanki (96) and a swashbuckling unbeaten 86 by Yusuf Pathan helped Baroda score 281 for six in their second innings against Delhi on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Super League semi-finals at the Usha Raje cricket grounds in Indore on Monday.
They now have an overall lead of 209 with four wickets left. Delhi had a first innings advantage of 72 after they compiled 271 in reply to Baroda's total of 199.
Resuming at eight for no loss, Bardoa almost lost the wicket of skipper Connor Williams for a duck. By the time they reached 12, they had SS Parab as well, putting the Delhi bowlers in command.
AA Bilakhia and Solanki batted cautiously to take the score to 56, before the former was bowled by Rajat Bhatia for 17.
Solanki was watching his partners depart at regular intervals and took the responsibility on his shoulders and started punishing the Delhi bowlers whenever they strayed.
He got good support from SA Gaekwad and they added 79 for the fourth wicket.
Gaekwad scored 46 and gave a return catch to Parwinder Awana.
Scorecard:
Baroda (1st innings): 199
Delhi (1st innings): 271
Baroda (2nd innings, overnight 8/0):
SS Parab b Awana 11
C Williams c Bisht b Awana 0
A Bilakhia b Bhatia 17
R Solanki lbw b Bhatia 96
S Gaekwad c & b Awana 46
P Shah b Nanda 15
Y Pathan not out 86
R Pawar not out 2
Extras: (b 6, lb 1, nb 1) 8
Total: (for 6 wickets in 86 overs) 281
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-12, 3-56, 4-135, 5-160, 6-278
Bowling: A Bhandari 16-5-45-0, S Narwal 22-7-66-0, P Awana 14-0-58-3, R Bhatia 7-1-20-2, C Nanda 18-4-53-1, M Manhas 7-0-13-0, A Jain 2-0-19-0
