Baroda bundled out for 86 runs against Uttarakhand

Vadodara: It’s a do-or-die Ranji tie for Baroda which needs a victory to qualify for the knock-outs. But Baroda boys were bundled out for a mere 86 runs by the Uttarakhand team on the first day of Ranji match on Tuesday. It is one of the lowest totals for Baroda in the past two decades.
The Baroda innings was wrapped up in just 36 overs. While three players got out for a duck, only four could reach the double figures as Uttarakhand bowlers ran through the team with ease. Bhargav Bhatt, who is a bowler, made the highest score of 23 runs for Baroda.
In the 2019-20 season, Baroda had scored just 85 runs against Karnataka in Bangalore and lost the match. But in the 2004-05 season, Baroda won against Tamil Nadu despite scoring only 64 runs in one inning. “This is the youngest team we have played in this season and their total experience in Ranji is much less than the other teams. But our boys have performed very well in almost every match this season,” said Tushar Arothe, Baroda assistant coach.
“Even Uttarakhand was four wickets down with just 25 runs on board. If we bowl them for a low score on Wednesday and then bat well, we have a chance of winning this game,” Arothe told TOI.
Sources in the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) said that the wicket for this Ranji tie in Dehradun too isn’t prepared properly.
“There were cracks on the wicket causing an uneven bounce. Players of both the teams were finding it difficult to negotiate the deliveries,” sources said.
Baroda needs to win this match and the next game too to stay afloat in the Ranji Trophy this season.