Ranji Trophy: Baroda seize control after initial setbacks against Tripura, Abhijit claims 3 wkts
After a challenging start in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match against Tripura at the MBB Stadium on Wednesday, Baroda rallied, thanks to a composed innings from Atit Seth, who led his team to a promising position on the first day.
Seth’s unbeaten 74 proved to be the backbone of Baroda’s score as they closed the day at 157 for 4 at the MBB Stadium. His effort, paired with a late-day stand with skipper Krunal Pandya, left Tripura under pressure to break the partnership early on the second day to prevent Baroda from piling up a large total.
The match got underway on a delayed note due to a wet outfield from Tuesday evening's rain, with play commencing only after lunch. Tripura’s captain Mandeep Singh made a tactical call after winning the toss, choosing to bowl first to exploit the damp conditions. This decision paid immediate dividends as fast bowler Abhijit Sarkar struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Baroda’s opener Shivalik Sharma for 1 and Shashwat Rawat for 2, leaving the visitors struggling at 4 for 2.
Faced with early adversity, opener Jyotsnil Singh and Atit Seth came together in a resilient partnership. Displaying grit and discipline, the duo put on a crucial 107 runs off 195 balls, steering Baroda out of a precarious position.
Singh, known for his solid technique, held firm and seemed set for a half-century before falling for 46 off 125 balls, an innings studded with six boundaries. His departure came at a critical juncture, as Tejashwi Jaswal managed to induce him a faint edge, with wicketkeeper S Sharath completing the catch.
Abhijit Sarkar continued his impressive spell, striking again to send back Vishnu Solanki for just 5, bringing Tripura’s hopes of restricting Baroda’s score alive. But any momentum Tripura gained was soon disrupted by Seth and Pandya.
As the light began to fade, the duo displayed aggression mixed with caution, managing to keep Tripura’s bowlers at bay. Seth closed the day with a well-paced 74 off 120 balls, featuring eight boundaries and a six, while Pandya provided a brisk 23 off 19 deliveries, finding the boundary five times.
Baroda’s fightback came despite the conditions and initial setbacks, and the team ended the day on 157 for 4 after 51 overs.
Among the Tripura bowlers, Abhijit Sarkar claimed 3 for 52 while Jaswal was the only other successful bowler, taking 1 for 20 in his spells. Tripura captain tried total six bowlers including all rounder Mani Shankar Murasing.
According to the informed sources, if Tripura fails to dismiss Seth early on Thursday, the visitors might capitalize and put up a commanding score, setting Tripura on the back foot on their home ground. Baroda’s middle and lower-order batsmen are known for their resilience, and with Pandya still at the crease, Tripura’s bowlers will need to deliver a breakthrough in the morning session to avoid conceding a substantial total.
Notably, Tripura made a change in their lineup for this match, opting for Bikramjit Debnath over Rana Dutta.
(Tripura, Northeast)
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