Published: Jan 09, 2016, 07:08 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 09, 2016, 07:08 PM (IST)
Vadodra: Baroda batsman made heavy weather of a modest run-chase to scrape past Andhra Pradesh by three wickets in their penultimate Group C Twenty20 league match and enter the knockouts of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Baroda, along with with table-toppers Delhi, have remained unbeaten in their five league games to secure their respective quarter-finals spots. Chasing a paltry 92 for a win at the Motibaug Cricket Stadium, the hosts were reduced to 52 for six, before skipper Irfan Pathan (28 not out) hung on with Swapnil K Singh (13) and then Soaeb Tai (3 not out) to help achieve the target in 16.5 overs. Live Cricket Score, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2015-16
After pace spearhead Ayyappa Banadru gave the visitors the opening breakthrough, spinners Bodavarapu Sudhakar and Sirla Himasrinivas shared five wickets between themselves to make life difficult for the Baroda batsmen, who faltered against a disciplined attack but finally prevailed. Earlier justifying the team’s decision to field first, Baroda bowlers, Rishi Arothe, Hardik Pandya and Bhargav Bhatt, bagged two wickets apiece to restrict Andhra to 91 for nine in 20 overs.
Captain Srikar Bharat top-scored with 30 runs, while Bandaru contributed with a gutsy 24 only to see the rest of the batting fall apart. Earlier, Skipper Irfan Pathan continued with his exemplary showing with an unbeaten 27-run blitz and a four-wicket haul to help Baroda thrash a hapless Madhya Pradesh by 53 runs in the Group C Twenty cricket match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Thursday.
Brief Scores:
Andhra Pradesh 91/9 in 20 overs (Srikar Bharat 30, Bandary Ayyappa 24; Bhargav Bhatt 2-5)
Baroda 93/7 in 16.5 overs (Irfan Pathan 28 not out, Kedar Devdhar 13; Bodavarapu Sudhakar 3-15, Sirla Himasrinivas 2-18)
Points: Baroda 4, Andhra Pradesh 0.
