Zaheer puts Baroda in command

Continuing his superb show with the ball, speedster Zaheer Khan brought Baroda on the verge of a big victory over Punjab with a five-wicket haul on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Division Group 'B' match in Vadodara on Monday.

The left-arm pace bower, included in the Pakistan-bound Indian squad, added to his four-wicket haul in the first innings by taking all Punjab second innings wickets that fell today.

At stumps, Punjab, who conceded a first innings lead of 132 runs, were tottering at 69 for five in the second essay, needing another 63 runs to make the home team bat again.

Zaheer had earlier helped his captain Jacob Martin, who made an impressive 80 in the home team's first innings total of 262, add 57 runs for the last wicket, remaining unbeaten with 23.

Also Read Day 1: Zaheer, Rakesh Patel wreck Punjab Ranji Trophy 2005-06: Complete coverage

Baroda started the day at 80 for one replying to Punjab's total of 130 and added 142 runs, the bulk of which were scored by Martin, who batted for 286 minutes and hit seven fours in his 179-ball essay.

Opener Connor Willams made 50 in 165 minutes with five hits to the fence but all other top order players flopped. Number ten Rakesh Patel made 28.

Punjab's leading wicket-taker was medium pacer Gagandeep Singh who utilised the early morning dew to his advantage.

Scorecard:
Punjab 1st innings: 130 all out

Baroda 1st innings
CC Williams c Dharmani b Gagandeep Singh 50
P Shah lbw b Mongia 17
KR Powar lbw b Sandhu 12
JJ Martin c Uniyal b Gagandeep Singh 80
RK Solanki c Kaul b Gagandeep Singh 0
HR Jadhav lbw b Gagandeep Singh 2
YK Pathan c Kaul b Gagandeep Singh 1
AP Bhoite c Kaul b Uniyal 10
RV Pawar c Mongia b Sandhu 12
RB Patel b Rajesh Sharma 28
Z Khan not out 23
Extras (b 1, lb 7, w 1, nb 18) 27
Total (all out, 99.4 overs) 262

FoW: 1-61, 2-89, 3-102, 4-105, 5-113, 6-115, 7-132, 8-165, 9-205, 10-262.

Bowling
Gagandeep Singh 36.4-12-84-5
Sandhu 22-7-53-2 (6nb)
Sodhi 2-0-4-0 (1nb)
Uniyal 14-2-42-1 (1nb, 1w)
Rajesh Sharma 11-0-41-1 (1nb)
Mongia 14-4-30-1 (5nb)

Punjab 2nd innings
RS Ricky c Jadhav b Khan 18
Muneesh Sharma c Pathan b Khan 4
D Mongia b Khan 10
P Dharmani b Khan 11
RS Sodhi not out 13
G Gupta c Shah b Khan 8
U Kaul not out 2
Extras (b 1, nb 2) 3
Total (5 wickets, 20 overs) 69

To Bat: A Uniyal, Gagandeep Singh, Rajesh Sharma, HS Sandhu.

FoW: 1-15, 2-33, 3-44, 4-53, 5-64.

Bowling
Khan 9-2-41-5 (1nb)
Patel 10-4-26-0 (1nb)
Pawar 1-0-1-0