Baroda fight back after Rawat, Bhosale hit 50's

Railways skipper Mahesh Rawat and Rohan Bhosale struck fighting half centuries before Baroda came back to leave the battle for the decisive first innings lead slightly in their favour on day three of the Ranji Tropy Group A match here today.
On a rare sunny day in the Delhi winter, 93 overs were bowled with Railways reaching 251 for seven at stumps, trailing Baroda's 298 by 47 runs.
Arnab Nandi (16*) was left stranded at the crease after Ashish Yadav (31) shouldered his arms to an Irfan Pathan (2/49) delivery that held its line.
Both teams know the value of the gaining the first innings lead going into the final day tomorrow. Only 11.5 overs could be bowled yesterday due to inclement weather.

Wicket-keeper batsman Rawat (50), who stitched a vital 83-run stand with Bhosale (76) for the fifth wicket, remained confident of getting past Baroda's total.
"I am really not happy with how the umpiring went. I was given out leg before when I had nicked it. I checked the footage as well and it showed the same. The sad part is that I got out at a very crucial juncture of the game. Having said that, the remaining batsmen have it in them to take us past Baroda," said Rawat, who scored his second fifty of the season.

Rawat hit some elegant fours in his 73-ball knock, especially the wristy flicks before being adjudged leg before wicket off left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh (2/65).

Bhosale, who was hospitalised after being hit on the back of the neck in the last game in Chennai, showed remarkable grit to hang around for 222 balls. Though he surely had luck on his side after being dropped twice.
He was trapped in front of the stumps by Yusuf Pathan (2/53).
"It was a good day for us. Would have been a very good day had we held on to catches. We fancy ourselves of taking the first innings lead tomorrow. We have a semi new ball and Irfan and others are bowling well on what looks like a very low and slow wicket," said Pathan.

Brief scores: Baroda 298. Railways (Mahesh Rawat 50, Rohan Bhosale 76; Irfan Pathan 2/49, Yusuf Pathan 2/53).