Bengal crash out of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after loss to Karnataka
Chasing 152, Karnataka rode on a quickfire 51 from Lokesh Rahul to chase down the target in 19.2 overs © Getty Images
Indore: Mar 29, 2013
Bengal concluded their campaign in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, going down to Karnataka by four wickets at the Holkar Stadium.
Chasing 152, Karnataka rode on a quickfire 51 (33 balls; 5×4, 2×6) from Lokesh Rahul to chase down the target in 19.2 overs.
India discard Robin Uthappa (41 off 35; 5×4, 1×6) helped Karnataka recover from a jittery start when they were 37/2.
Later Rahul put on a 49-run fourth wicket partnership with Manish Pandey (20) to build the foundation before Stuart Binny steered the side home with an unbeaten 21 off 18 (1×4, 1×6).
Earlier, Bengal had a typical middle-order collapse after skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla opted to bat as they were reduced to 74 for five with Sayan Sekhar Mondal only shining at the top of the order with an useful 42 (30b;5×4, 1×6)
The duo of Arnab Nandi (37 not out off 17 balls; 3×4, 3×6) and Debabrata Das (31 off 24; 2×4, 1×6) repaired the damage taking the side to a respectable total.
Bengal finished with eight points from 4 matches as they made an early exit alongwith defending champions Baroda (4/3) from group B.
Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab — all with 12 points each from three matches each — remain in the three-way race for the two berths for the last four.
Brief Scores: Bengal 151 for 7 in 20 overs (Sayan Sekhar Mondal 42, Arnab Nandi 37 not out, Debabrata Das 31; R Vinay Kumar 2 for 30, SL Akshay 2 for 24, Krishnappa Gowtham 2 for 26) lost to Karnataka 152 for 6 in 19.2 overs (Lokesh Rahul 51, Robin Uthappa 41; Shami Ahmed 3 for 39, SS Mondal 2 for 26) by 4 wickets.