Ranji Trophy 2012: Rayudu, Chauhan hit tons as Baroda punish Delhi

Biswajit Jha

New Delhi: Ketan Panchal and Gagandeep Singh Natt slammed unbeaten half centuries after both the overnight batsmen-Ambati Rayudu and Abhimanyu Chauhan who were unbeaten on 83 and 82, respectively -completed their centuries as Baroda dominated an insipid Delhi attack for the second day in a row. Baroda were 525/7 in their first innings against Delhi at stumps on Day 2 of the their Group B tie on Sunday. Ketan Panchal, who played an attacking knock, was unbeaten on 72, while Gangandeep was not out on 70. They put on 126 runs for the undefeated 8th wicket stand which helped Baroda score more than 500 on the board. Both Panchal and Natt slammed 7 fours and 3 sixes during their 171 and 130-ball knocks, respectively. The pair ensured that the tourists did not lose any wicket in the last session after Delhi took four wickets in the first half of the day. When Murtaza Vohra was bowled by a Rajat Bhatia delivery which kept very low, Baroda were 399/7. On a pitch which can be described as a graveyard for the bowlers, Delhi got a very good chance of wrapping up the Baroda innings within 450, a score which would have given the hosts very good chance of taking a first innings lead. But Panchal and Natt again proved that there is nothing for the bowlers in the pitch. Only paceman Parvinder Awana, who took two wickets in the match including the wicket of highest scorer Rayudu, bowled with a lot of fire and pace. The rest of the Delhi bowlers looked very ordinary during the second consecutive day of the match. Rajat Bhatia also did his job by picking up a wicket to add to his overnight tally of two. Left-arm spinner Manan Sharma continued to struggle as he gave away 130 runs in his 31 overs without taking a wicket. Earlier in the morning session, Rayudu and Chauhan, who were batting on 80s, completed their centuries. Rayudu made 131 before being bowled by Awana while Chauhan was dismissed by Sumit Narwal for 113.