A masterly century by Jacob Martin helped strong contenders Baroda gain a vital first innings lead of 74 runs at the end of third day of the four-day Ranji Trophy tie against Assam in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Batting in the second innings, Assam were 71 for one at close at the Nehru stadium.
Martin crafted a patient 126, studded with 14 hits to the fence and one six, off 338 balls, as he warded off a spirited Assam attack.
Assam spinners Sukhbinder Singh (3/70) and Arland Konwar (3/109) toiled hard on a placid pitch as Martin stood like a rock while tail enders contributed their bit to the total.
Rakesh Patel continued to show fine form as he followed his good bowling performance (4/82) in the first innings with a useful 35 with former India wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia and Rajesh Pawar contributing 21 each.
Scoreboard
Assam (1st innings): 273
Baroda (1st innings):
Connor Williams b Das 17
Satyajit Parab c Zufri b Zaman 7
Rikesh Parab b Zaman 0
Jacob Martin c Konwar b Singh 126
Kiron Pawar lbw Singh 43
R Solanki c Zafri b Konwar 34
Nayan Mongia c Satish b Konwar 21
Rajesh Pawar lbw Singh 21
Rakesh Patel lbw Zaman 35
Yusuf Pathan c Satish b Konwar 10
S Joshi not out 0.
Extras: (b-10, lb-2, w-5, nb-16) 33
Total: (all out in 120.4 overs) 347
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-15, 3-59, 4-138, 5-195, 6-219, 7-254, 8-309, 9-342.
Bowling: Gautam Dutta 19-4-54-0, Zaved Zaman: 22-6-77-3, Parag Das: 11-5-18-1, Arland Konwar: 38-9-109-3, Sukhbinder Singh: 27.4-9-70-3, Parvez Aziz: 3-0-7-0.
Assam (2nd innings):
Parag Das b Rakesh Patel 0
Parvez Aziz batting 38
Zakaria Zafri batting 26
Extras: (b-5, w-1, nb-1) 7
Total: (for one wkt in 33 overs) 71
Fall of wicket: 1-0
Bowling: Rakesh Patel 6-4-3-1, S Joshi 2-0-16-0, Yusuf Pathan 14-6-26-0, Rajesh Pawar 9-3-18-0, Kiran Pawar 2-0-3-0.
