CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh got some respite after two gloomy days as openers Arslan Khan and debutant Harnoor Singh slammed contrasting half-centuries to take help the team reach 177/0 in their second innings after Baroda had amassed 517 in their first essay of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match in Cuttack on Saturday.
At stumps, Arlsan and Harnoor walked back unscathed at 57 and 77, respectively.
Having conceded a mammoth 349-run first innings lead, Chandigarh needed solidity up the order, and the duo of Harnoor and Arslan were out on a mission as they came out to bat for a second time in the match. While Arlsan started off in customary fashion, slicing and cutting the loose balls, to race to a brilliant half century, Harnoor was more cautious and played the perfect second fiddle to his left-handed partner.
With the wicket finally opening up and strokeplay getting easier, Arslan faced 73 balls for his undefeated 57, powered by 9 hits to the fence, while Harnoor slammed 13 boundaries in his 118-ball knock.
Earlier in the day, Baroda started at 398/7 before losing Vishnu Solanki after the overnight centurion added one run to his score of 103. Vishnu’s innings came off 165 balls and was powered by 12 boundaries.
But the other overnight batter Atit Sheth stayed on, and decided to take on the Chandigarh bowlers to bring up a brilliant 87-ball 57, comprising five fours and a six. The Chandigarh team were in for more surprise as the Baroda No.10 Bhargav Bhatt came up with a quickfire half century to help the team sail past the 500-run mark. Bhatt took Chandigarh bowlers to the cleaners, smoking six sixes and five boundaries to score 75 off 79 deliveries before falling to Jagjit.
For Chandigarh, Jagjit once again turned the star of the bowling unit, returning with figures of 5/118, while Gurinder Singh picked three scalps. Rajangad Bawa contributed with one wicket.
Brief Scores: Chandigarh 168 & 177/0 (Arslan Khan 57 batting, Harnoor Singh 77 batting) vs Baroda 517 all out (Vishnu Solanki 104, Jyotsnil Singh 96, Bhargav Bhatt 75, Atit Sheth 59; Jagjit Singh 5/18, Gurinder Singh 3/14).
