Williams' hundred sees Baroda make strong reply

A responsible hundred from Baroda skipper Connor Williams brought Ranji champions Baroda within shouting distance of Maharashtra's first innings score of 321 on the second day of the Ranji Trophy tie between the two sides at the Nehru Stadium, Pune on Sunday.

Baroda, who finished the day on 294 for five, were given a strong foundation by Williams and his opening partner Satyajit Parab (74). The two put on 184 runs for the first wicket before Parab departed after having faced 142 balls and hit nine fours.

Former India `keeper Nayan Mongia, who followed, kept his skipper company for a good while as the two put on 51 runs for the second wicket. But Mongia's departure for a patient 22 saw Maharashtra stage a minor fightback; the visitors lost three more top-order wickets, including that of Williams for 137 off 199 balls with 21 fours, for the addition of just 30 runs. But veteran middle-order bat Tushar Arothe and Himanshu Jadhav ensured that Baroda ended the day without any further mishaps by putting on 28 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket.

Mumbai-Saurashtra match interestingly poised

A captain's innings of 96 from Shitanshu Kotak helped Saurashtra post 379 against powerful Mumbai on the second day of their Ranji match at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The home team were 58 for no loss in reply when stumps were drawn.

In the morning, Kotak, who resumed at 53*, found good allies in FU Bambhaniya and S Reuben Paul. The latter made a typically breezy 48 from 35 balls with nine fours before being dismissed. The rest of the Saurashtra batsmen did not do anyhting of note. For Mumbai, ex-India seamer Paras Mhambrey claimed 4-83 off 37.1 overs.

The home team reply got off to a sound start with Vinayak Mane scoring runs at a fair clip. Mane will resume on 43 off 56 balls on Monday; his partner Wasim Jaffer, who made a sedate 12* by the end of the day, will give him company.

Das and Raul put Orissa in commanding position

Double-centuries from Shiv Sunder Das and captain Sanjay Raul helped Orissa pile on a massive 575 for four at the end of the second day of their all-important East Zone Ranji match against Bengal at Baripada on Sunday.

Earlier, Orissa after winning the toss, lost opener BBCC Mohanty for no score. No. 3 Rashmi Ranjan Parida made 28 before he too was out. It was at this juncture, with the team score on 58-2, that Das and Raul began their grand stand. Das, who made 253 before he was run out, also had the pleasure of registering the highest Ranji score of the current season. Raul too must have been pleased at the end of a day which saw him register 210 runs against his name. The two men put on a massive 456 runs together before Raul was out. PM Mullick on 22* and P Jayachandra 30* were holding fort when stumps were drawn.

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