Devdhar, Solanki hit half-centuries as Andhra strikes late

After half-centuries from Devdhar and Solanki, Baroda huffs and puffs to 247 for seven on the opening day in the Group C clash against Andhra.

File photo of Baroda's Kedar Devdhar in action. Devdhar top-scored for Baroda with 93 on day one of its Ranji Trophy match against Andhra.

Till the stroke of tea, Baroda followed the textbook method of approaching a four day game by starting with a steady approach and respecting the bowlers before taking advantage of the platform set in the second session as the bowlers and fielders tired out in the blazing sun.

That was until Kedar Devdhar was dismissed for a well made 93 in the last over before tea, caught behind down the leg side off pacer I. Karthik Raman. That was the opening Andhra needed as it came back strongly post tea to reduce Baroda to 247 for seven on the opening day in the Group C clash.

Electing to field, Andhra pacers continued to show the discipline seen in the first game against TN and kept things tight. While Baroda openers got in few boundaries early in the innings, Andhra pacers really kept things tight in the first two hours.

B. Ayyappa first got Aditya Waghmode caught behind, squaring up the left-hander before Darshan Mistry, under the pressure of few maiden overs miscued a pull shot off Raman to be caught at square leg with the score reading 43 for two.

Devdhar and Vishnu Solanki then set about rebuilding the innings taking the side to lunch at 82 for two. In the second over after lunch, medium pacer Ashwin Hebbar had Devdhar produce a leading edge when the latter tried to work it on the leg side only for Bhargav Bhatt to spill an easy chance at mid on. Devdhar who was on 43 made Andhra pay dearly as he capitalised and struck a 133-run partnership with Solanki.

Solanki at the other end played bit more aggressively slamming three sixes of left-arm spinner Bhatt — including two of successive deliveries to take him from 42 to 54.

Post tea, Yusuf Pathan, who made tons in both innings in the last match, fell for a trap when he reached out for a wide delivery from left-arm spinner Bhatt and gave a simple catch to deep extra cover fielder.

Ayappa returned for another spell and changed the course of the game when he got Irfan Pathan and a well-set Solanki in his five over spell giving away only 13 runs as Baroda slumped to 194 for six from 177 for two.

Swapnil Singh and centurion from the last match Atit Sheth then ensured no further damage was done with an unbeaten 43-run stand for the eighth wicket.