Agencies

Kolkata, Jan 25: This is one record no cricketer should want against his name. Believe it or not, Baroda’s Shekhar Joshi played hundred balls during his 120-minute stay at the crease in the Ranji semifinal against Bengal... without opening his account!

With this dubious record, 25-year-old Joshi, in partnership (47) with Connor Williams, saved Baroda from ignominy of an innings defeat. Joshi came to bat with Baroda strugling at 205 for eight, still needing 173 to make Bengal bat again and 55 overs left to play.

Baroda had resumed the day still 277 runs behind the Bengal total and lost two wickets either side of the lunch. They lost captain Jacob Martin (34) to Ranadeb Bose and Yusuf Pathan (5), to Shibsagar Singh’s slow left-arm spin. 

Singh followed this with the wickets of Ajit Bhoite (14), Rajesh Pawar (6), and Kiran Powar (6) and for Baroda, the end looked too close for comfort. At tea they were 223 for eight and Williams had just reached his 11th first-class ton. But Williams found an able partner in Joshi to defy Bengal an outright win. Williams remained unconquered on 135 (363b, 505 m, 14x4).

When bad light stopped play 16 minutes ahead of schedule, Bengal broke a 12-year jinx to make the final, where they will meet Uttar Pradesh.