Ranji Trophy: Baroda humble listless Odisha by innings & 98 runs

Odisha were handed a thrashing by hosts Baroda in their third-round Ranji Trophy Group A tie in Vadodara on Monday.
After taking a first-innings lead of 263 runs with skipper Krunal Pandya scoring a century (119 off 143 balls) early in the day, the hosts bowled out Odisha for a mere 165 runs to win by an innings and 98 runs and earn seven points.
It was Baroda's third successive victory in as many matches this season and they are on top of the table with 19 points from three matches. As for Odisha, they are placed sixth on the table with four points from three matches. While their first game against Tripura was abandoned, they were able to earn three points from their last game against Jammu & Kashmir thanks to a first-innings ton by skipper Govinda Poddar followed by some gutsy batting by Sandeep Pattnaik in the second essay.
However, in Vadodara it was a disappointing show by the entire Odisha team as they just couldn't stand up to the challenge thrown in by the home side. Coming down to bat on the third day, they had a horrid beginning as Shantanu Mishra was dismissed for naught in the seventh over and the score read 11/1.
Anurag Sarangi (49) and Pattnaik then steadied the innings and added 58 runs to the total. However, once Sarangi was clean bowled by Ninad Rathva in the 20th over, wickets started falling at regular intervals and in no time it was 88/5.
The duo of Kartik Biswal (53 not out of 26 balls) and Aasirwad Swain tried their best to keep the Baroda bowlers at bay by playing some lusty shots. But once Rathva caught Swain plumb in front of the wicket, Odisha's resistance was over. From 134/6, in quick time it became 143/9.
Biswal did reach his half-century with No. 11 Sumit Sharma giving him company but it was all over in the 34th over when Sumit fell to Rathva - once again LBW.
For Baroda, Rathva was their best bowler with figures of 6 for 60 in 10 overs. Mahesh Pithiya and Bhargav Bhatt grabbed two wickets each.
Earlier in the day, Baroda managed to add 102 runs to their overnight total 354/6 before being dismissed. With Pandya in fine form, the runs came easily. Once Pandya was dismissed by Poddar, Pithiya and Bhatt also went after the bowlers. In the end they reached 456 and it was more than enough to bag the win with a bonus point.
Brief scores: Odisha 193 & 165 in 34 overs (Kartik Biswal 53, Anurag Sarangi 49; Ninad Rathva 6/60). Baroda 456 in 128.4 overs (Krunal Pandya 119; Govinda Poddar 5/131). Baroda won by an innings and 98 runs.