Devdhar puts Baroda on top

That they had to endure an excruciatingly drab contest,but it really didn't seem to matter to them.

That they had to endure an excruciatingly drab contest,but it really didn8217;t seem to matter to them. After all,almost every single one of the spectators who thronged the natural grass-banks surrounding the Moti Baug ground had turned up mainly to witness a Yusuf Pathan blitzkrieg. Despite Baroda managing only 70 runs in their first 38 overs,they sat patiently probably preserving their energies to cheer for their team8217;s swashbuckling entertainer whenever his time would arrive.

And well before opener Connor Williams finally dragged himself off the field after edging an Anureet Singh delivery,the word had begun to spread that Yusuf was next. And after surviving a run-out scare off just the second delivery he faced in his innings much to the collective relief of everyone present at the ground,except the Railways team the 27-year-old destroyer of bowling attacks did not disappoint his legion of fans,playing an outrageous cameo which included four monstrous sixes. The innings of the day,however,came at the other end,where 21-year-old Kedar Devdhar not only complemented his senior partner at the other end impressively,but also held his own to compile his maiden first-class century.

But while Yusuf8217;s 51-ball 68 provided the hosts with the much-required momentum after a slow start,it was Devdhar who handed his team a convincing hold of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal,remaining unbeaten on 122 as Baroda finished with 303/4 after the second day8217;s play. And ahead by 55 with six wickets remaining,the home team will consider themselves having one foot already in the semis,leaving Railways now their task cut out to make a match of it.

Resisting the urge to try and emulate Yusuf,while batting alongside him,must not be an easy job even for an experienced batsman. But,still in only his first full season of first-class cricket,Devdhar not only displayed the temperament to continue playing his own game,there were times during the 113-run stand that he shared with Yusuf,where he exhibited his own ability to take the attack to the opposition.

Once Yusuf left,holing out off Sanjay Bangar8217;s bowling,Ambati Rayudu 41 off 32 ball provided another display of his uninhibited talent and unfortunately also his tendency of throwing away his wicket following a good start. Short and stout,and blessed with a solid technique against both pace and spin,Devdhar8217;s only drawback this season had been his inability to convert his fifties into a century. Here,he kept his cool and brought it up in style with a huge six off leg-spinner Karan Sharma. And also probably showed Rayudu how it should be done.

8220;Once Yusuf is there then most of the pressure is released as we all know how big a hitter he is. Earlier,I was thinking too much about the century after crossing the 50-run mark. But my seniors asked me to just continue with the momentum and it worked for me this time,8221; says the youngster,who now wants to turn this knock into a substantial one.

Brief scores: Railways 248 M Kartik 57,Y Goud 46; M Patel 4/88 vs Baroda 303/4 K Devdhar 122 no,Y Pathan 68; S Bangar 2/38