Tamil Nadu fought back to put itself in line for its first win of the season after bowling out Baroda for 197 in the second innings on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Group "C" match here today.
On a topsy-turvy day, Tamil Nadu lost five wickets for 48 runs to be bowled out for 274 in its first innings after resuming at the overnight score of 226 for 5, only to concede a 35-run lead.
Baroda's second innings lasted only 57.5 overs as the visiting bowlers led by M Mohammed and K Vignesh, with three wickets each, dismissed them for 197, leaving a target of 233 for victory.
Tamil Nadu's outside chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals evaporated after Mumbai routed Tripura by 10 wickets to storm into the knockouts with 21 points.
The second team to qualify from the group will be either Andhra Pradesh (19 points) or Madhya Pradesh, which is playing Odisha at Indore.
Tamil Nadu's woes continued as the in-form Aparajith fell without adding to his overnight score of 59, bowled by Lukman Meriwala.
The rest capitulated without much fight, save for V Yomahesh, who made 26.
Baroda began its second innings, losing Aditya Waghmode for 7 with the score at 15. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals as Mohammed and Vignesh kept pegging away.
Like in the first innings, all-rounder Swapnil K Singh (49) defied the TN bowlers along with young medium-pacer Atit Sheth (40).
Kartik Kakade, who made 42 in the first knock, hit six fours and a six in his 33 to extend the visitors' misery.
Tamil Nadu finished the day at 2 for no loss, needing a further 231 for victory.
Brief scores: Baroda 309 all out in 98.1 overs and 197 all out in 57.5 overs (Swapnil K Singh 49, A Sheth 40, M Mohammed 3 for 22, K Vignesh 3 for 46) vs Tamil Nadu 274 all out in 95.3 overs (B Aparajith 59, B Indrajith 58, J Kousik 37, M Kaushik Gandhi 35, Luckman Meriwala 3 for 37) and 2 for no loss.
At Indore: Odisha 147 all out in 52.2 overs and 237 for 4 in 100 overs (Rajesh Dhuper 88, Subhransu Senapati 78 batting, Mihir Hirwani 2 for 58) vs Madhya Pradesh 388 all out in 115 overs (Rajit Patidar 123, Govinda Poddar 7 for 102).
At Mumbai: Tripura 195 all out in 60.4 overs and 288 all out in 78 overs (Yashpal Singh 82, Smit Patel 62, Dhawal Kulkarni 4 for 69, Karsh Kothari 4 for 72) lost to Mumbai 421 for 8 declared in 111 overs and 64 for no loss in 6.2 overs (Prithvi Shaw 50 not out) by 10 wickets.
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