A defiant unbeaten knock of 69 runs by skipper Jacob Martin helped Baroda defeat Haryana by four wickets in the Elite group 'A' Ranji Trophy cricket match at Motibaug ground on Thursday.
This crucial win has earned four points for Baroda and kept the team in contention for a semi-final berth with a total tally of 13 points.
Set a target of 213 runs for victory, Baroda were in a precarious position last evening as they had lost five wickets with just 119 runs on the scoreboard.
When proceedings began this morning, overnight batsman Ajit Bhoite (1) failed to add on to the score and was brilliantly caught in the first slip by Sunny Singh of a Joginder Sharma delivery.
With the score reading 134 for six, skipper Martin dropped anchor and batted cautiously. He got good support from the 18-year-old wicket keeper Pinal Shah who made an unbeaten 36 runs.
Haryana captain Joginder Sharma tried his best to break the partnership between Martin and Shah and went to the extent of asking wicket-keeper Mahesh Rawat to bowl five overs Sharma tried seven different bowlers, but could not break the rhythm of the batsmen.
The two got their act together and forged a seventh wicket partnership of 79 runs in 225 balls to see their team coast to victory in the 90th over of the innings.
Martin hit the winning stroke by hitting a Sunny Singh delivery to the fence. Martin's knock contained 11 fours.
The lunch time was extended by an over to enable Baroda reach the winning target.
Scorecard
Haryana Ist innings: 171
Baroda (Ist innings): 169
Haryana (2nd innings) 210
Baroda (2nd innings):
C Williams hit wicket b Amit Mishra 33
S Parab lbw b Amit Mishra 35
Rakesh Solanki c A Rawat b G Vashisht 05
Jacob Martin not out 69
S A Gaewkwad lbw b Amit Mishra 05
Ketan Panchal st Rawat b Amit Mishra 08
A P Bhoite c Sunny Singh b J Sharma 01
Pinal Shah not out 36
Extras: B-0, LB-6, W-3, NB-12 21
Total (for 6 wickets in 89.4 overs) 213
Fall of wickets: 1-74, 2-75, 3-84, 4-98, 5-119, 6-134.
Bowling: J Sharma 18-5-46-1, S Budhwar 5-2-15-0, G Vashisht 24-4-56-1, A Mishra 35-11-68-4, M Rawat 5-0-16-0, S Rana 1-0-2-0, S Singh 1.4-1-4-0.