Tamil Nadu were well poised to score a thumping win over Baroda after reducing the hosts to 13 for two in the second innings chasing a daunting victory target of 272 on the second day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Division group B match in Baroda on Thursday.
Tamil Nadu, who took a crucial 88-run first innings lead over Baroda after dismissing the hosts' last wicket without any addition to the overnight score of 64 for nine, were shot out for 183 in the second essay in the low-scoring clash.
Rakesh Patel, who grabbed seven wickets in the Tamil Nadu first innings which included a hat-trick, was again among the wickets in the match played at the Moti Baug palace ground.
Patel grabbed two for 25, but this time around got good help from his other two medium pacer colleagues, Irfan Pathan Sr and Yusuf Khan who claimed three wickets apiece.
Diminutive left arm spinner Rajesh Pawar claimed the other two Tamil Nadu second innings wickets.
The visitors, who were gasping at 59 for five, once again recovered poise as in the first innings. They were rallied by India Test wicket keeper Dinesh Kartik (32, in 53 balls with 6 fours) and Sridharan Sharath (32 in 87 balls with 4 fours).
The pair put on 49 runs for the sixth wicket which took the total past the 100 mark. Tail-end batsmen C Ganapathy (21) and R Ramkumar (30) later took the score past 180 to put the visitors in strong position.
Scorecard
Tamil Nadu 1st Innings: 152
Baroda 1st Innings: (Overnight 64 for 9)
C Williams c Badrinath b Shrinivas 2
S Parab b Jesuraj 1
R Parab c Kartik b Jesuraj 0
J Martin st Kartik b Ramkumar 17
K Powar c Anirudh b Jesuraj 4
M Mewada lbw Shrinivas 1
R Pawar c Kartik b Jesuraj 20
Yusuf Pathan c Hemant Kumar b Shrinivas 0
R Patel c Sharath b Jesuraj 6
S Joshi b Jesuraj 2
Irfan Pathan Sr not out 0
Extras: (lb 2, nb 4, w 5) 11
Total: (All out in 32.1 overs) 64
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-5, 4-20, 5-29, 6-29, 7-30, 8-58, 9-63.
Bowling: Jesuraj 10.1-5-12-6, Shrinivas 11-4-38-3, Ganapathy 3-1-5-0, Ramkumar 8-4-7-1.
Baroda 2nd innings
C Williams not out 9
R Parab b Shrinivas 1
M Mewada b Ramkumar 2
Extras: (lb 1) 1
Total: (2 wickets, 8.2 overs) 13
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-13.
Bowling: Jesuraj 4-2-6-0, Shrinivas 4-2-5-1.Ramkumar 0.2-0-1-1.