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Defiant knock by Williams

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

IN FULL FLOW: Baroda’s Connor Williams came up with a captain’s knock to thwart Karnataka on Tuesday.

BANGALORE: A defiant unbeaten 97 from skipper Connor Williams and his stubborn third-wicket partnership with Rakesh Solanki for 140 saved Baroda the blushes against Karnataka on the third day of the Ranji Trophy super league Elite Group ‘B’ match at the RSI ground here on Tuesday. Baroda in its second knock was 204 for four at stumps and could well delay the inevitable till tea on the final day.

The host extended its first innings total to 395 for a lead of 226 and then struck two quick blows. Opener Satyajit Parab was castled by Vinay Kumar while Azhar Bilakhia was caught behind off veteran Sunil Joshi, with the score on 32. Pinal Shah, with no score, was giving company to his captain.

Solanki, who stood tall amongst the ruins in the first innings as well, punished anything loose with panache. He struck nine fours in his 66 before nicking one to Rahul Dravid in the slips off offie Raghu. Solanki had in fact survived a sharp chance of the same bowler when Thilak Naidu behind the stumps spilled the edge.

Williams went from strength to strength despite losing Shatrunjay Gaekwad (14). As long as he is in the middle Karnataka will be hard pressed to force the issue.

Williams was bogged down early on when home skipper Robin Uthappa introduced spin at both ends. His unbeaten knock has been thus far without blemish. If he can carry on long enough Karnataka’s hopes of gaining bonus points could well diminish.

The scores: Baroda — 1st innings: 169.

Karnataka — 1st innings: K.B. Pawan lbw b Argal 3, R. Uthappa c Solanki b Argal 4, Manish Pandey c Shah b Veragi 12, R. Dravid b Argal 83, C. Raghu b Pawar 30, T. Naidu c Shah b Pawar 90, S. Joshi b Argal 55, B. Akhil c Shah b Veragi 66, Sunil N. Raju c Gaekwad b Pawar 33, R. Vinay Kumar c Gaekwad b Veragi 0, N.C. Aiyappa (not out) 5; Extras: (lb-9, w-4, nb-1) 14; Total: (in 118.4 overs) 395.

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-14, 3-24, 4-99, 5-168, 6-271, 7-309, 8-379, 9-383.

Baroda bowling: Salim Veragi 21-3-73-3, Ajitesh Argal 27-4-93-4, Rajesh Pawar 37.4 8-107-3, Ketan Panchal 17-2-40-0, Utkarsh Patel 16-1-73-0.

Baroda — 2nd innings: C. Williams (batting) 97, Satyajit Parab b Vinay 19, Azhar Bilakhia c Naidu b Joshi 4, Rakesh Solanki c Dravid b Raghu 66, Shatrunjay Gaekwad c Pawan b Joshi 14, Pinal Shah (batting) 0; Extras: (lb-1, nb-3) 4; Total: (for 4 wkts in 79 overs) 204.

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-32, 3-172, 4-204.

Karnataka bowling: Vinay Kumar 17-4-47-1, Aiyappa 9-1-36-0, Joshi 15-3-26-2, Sunil N. Raju 15-3-56-0, Raghu 17-6-30-1, Akhil 6-4-8-0.

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