Baroda enter semis as Tamil Nadu succumb meekly

Tamil Nadu's resistance, but for a sixth wicket partnership of 72 runs between Hemanth Kumar and JR Madanagopal, was totally passive. Baroda holding a clear advantage when play resumed, wrapped up their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal by 160 runs at the Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation ground in Baroda on Sunday. The victory, achieved before lunch on the fourth day, put the hosts in the penultimate round where they await the winners of the match between Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.

Resuming at 50 for three in quest of a tough victory target of 323, Tamil Nadu were never really in the picture. In the first over itself, they lost Thiru Kumaran without any addition to the total. And in the next over Ajit Bhoite bowled Reuben Paul and Tamil Nadu were reeling at 55 for five.

The other overnight batsman Hemanth Kumar and Madanagopal then came together to push the score into the realms of respectibility. They added 72 runs off 16.2 overs before Hemanth Kumar was caught by Williams off Valmik Buch for 56. In a three hour stay at the crease, Hemanth faced 149 balls and hit five fours. Madanagopal fell a little later, caught by Bhoite off Buch for 45. Madanagopal faced 67 balls and hit three fours and three sixes. The tail offered little resistance and Tamil Nadu were all out for 162. Medium pacer Rakesh Patel was the most successful bowler with four for 47 while off spinner Bhoite (3 for 35) and left arm spinner Valmik Buch (3 for 38) too had their share of the spoils.