Tail-enders Murtuza Vahora and Bhargav Bhatt defied all the odds to put up a 63-run stand for the final wicket as Baroda reached 191 for nine at stumps against a formidable Tamil Nadu side in the Ranji Trophy group league encounter in Vadodara on Saturday.
Bhatt joined Vahora when Baroda were 128 for nine on a seaming track where seamer V Yomahesh ripped through the middle-order grabbing five for 25.
Vahora remained unbeaten on 45 while Bhatt contributed 23.
Save skipper Ambati Rayudu who scored 54 with the help of five fours and a six, none of the reputed batsmen made any significant contribution. Among the top nine, only Aditya Waghmode reached 20 apart from Rayudu.
The best part about the partnership between Vahora and Bhatt was that they defied the Tamil Nadu pace trio of Jagannathan Kaushik, Sunil Sam and Yomahesh for 30 overs.
Both Kaushik and Sam got two wickets apiece.
Brief Scores: Tamil Nadu 191/9 (Ambati Rayudu 54, Murtuza Vahora 45 batting, V Yomahesh 5/25).
