Bhubaneswar: The Ranji Trophy fixture against Baroda is only halfway through, and Odisha already have their backs to the wall.
Baroda, having bowled out Odisha for 193 on Saturday, batted well to reach 354/6 at close on the second day at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium.
With skipper Krunal Pandya at the crease on 88 the left-hander with international experience will look to push Baroda’s first-innings lead well past 200 to make it extremely tough for Odisha.
Opener Shivalik Sharma (96) and No. 5 Vishnu Solanki (98) missed their centuries by a stroke each, but their 121-run partnership for the fourth wicket set up Baroda’s foundation for a big total.
Solanki joined Shivalik at 100/3, after offie Govinda Poddar and left-arm spinner Sumit Sharma dismissed Shashwat Rawat and Abhimanyusingh Rajput inside the first hour of play on Sunday.
The left-right combination of Shivalik and Solanki mixed caution with aggression to tame Odisha, who used as many as eight bowlers throughout the day.
Baroda upped the ante after Shivalik’s dismissal brought another left-hander Krunal to the crease. The elder brother of Hardik Pandya showed his attacking intent from the word go, hitting 11 fours and 3 sixes in his 103-ball unbeaten 88.
Krunal added 82 with Solanki for the fifth wicket, and 50 with Ninad Rathva.
Occasional spinner and skipper Poddar was the best bowler for Odisha, bagging 4/96, while left-arm spinners Sumit and Harshit Rathod claimed a wicket apiece.
Brief Scores
Odisha 1st innings: 193.
Baroda 1st innings: 354/6 in 107 overs (Vishnu Solanki 98, Shivalik Sharma 96, Krunal Pandya 88 batting; Govinda Poddar 4/96).
Match situation: Odisha trail by 161 runs.
Match to continue on Day 3.
