As India were struggling to clear the fence at Brisbane, a member of their T20 squad was smashing the bowlers to all corners of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Hardik Pandya’s 86 off just 46 balls helped Baroda kick off the Super League stage with a win over Vidarbha.
After winning the toss, Baroda captain decided to bowl first. Despite losing a wicket in the third over, Vidarbha got off to a good start and would have been disappointed with their total of 162, especially as three batsmen were set and had scored over 30.
Although he didn’t pick up any wickets, Pandya’s economical bowling ensured the set batsmen didn’t make hay. Although Swapnil Singh picked up two wickets, he went at over 10 runs per over.
With the ball, though, Vidarbha brought things back, as they kept the batsmen quiet and when both openers were dismissed, Baroda were yet to reach fifty. When Deepak Hooda was dismissed off the first ball of the 11th over, Baroda still needed 99 to win off 59 balls, but Pandya’s whirlwind knock ensured they got home.
His 86 included 8 sixes and 3 fours and was ably supported by his captain Irfan Pathan, who scored an unbeaten 26 off just 16 balls to ensure they got off to a winning start in the Super League stage.
Brief Scores: Vidarbha 162/5 (20) (Satish 54, Wankhade 40) lost to Baroda 168/4 (19) (Pandya 86, Pathan 26) by 53 runs.
Lack of support from the other batsmen meant Unmukt Chand’s 55-ball century went in vain, Delhi lost their first game of the tournament to Gujarat. After being asked to bat, Delhi were 5/2 in the second over, but Chand’s century propelled them to 170, but it wasn’t enough as Parthiv Patel’s chased down the target with 15 balls to spare.
Gautam Gambhir and Dhruv Shorey were both dismissed for a duck inside the second over as Delhi were reeling. But Chand found some support in Aditya Kaushik and got his side beyond 50 before Kaushik got out.
Although he was losing wickets at the other end, Chand was determined to get his side to a good total. After hitting 8 fours and 5 sixes, Chand got to his century off 55 balls but was dismissed a few balls later for 103.
Although Delhi got to 170, with the form Gujarat’s openers are in that was never going to be enough and so it proved to be. Parthiv added 42 off 28 before he was dismissed in the 9th over. His opening partner, however, saw his side home with an unbeaten fifty, with 2.3 overs to spare.
Brief Scores: Gujarat 171/2 (17.3) (PK Panchal 68*, Parthiv Patel 42) beat Delhi 170/5 (20) (Chand 103, Kaushik 23) by 8 wickets.
A captain’s innings from Aditya Tare ensured Mumbai made easy work of their target and got off to a winning start in the Super League stage.
After choosing to field, Mumbai got off to the perfect start as they had Kerala at 2/1 after 2 overs. But Sanju Samson and Rohan Prem, their two in-form batsmen, consolidated as they ended the powerplay on 44/1. But a wonderful diving catch by Suryakumar Yadav brought an abrupt end to Samson’s innings for 22.
A fifty partnership for the third wicket gave Kerala a solid platform. Sachin Baby was even given a lifeline on 29 as Aditya Tare missed a simple stumping, but he didn't make the most of his chance as he tried to lap Sagar Trivedi, but only ended up being bowled for 32.
Prem, who had two close shaves, first after being caught off a no ball, second when he was dropped on 55 after a wonderful effort by Siddhesh Lad, but eventually perished 69. While Mumbai’s bowlers did well to restrict Kerala to 160, the star of the show was certainly Yadav, who became the first Mumbai fielder to get four catches in an innings.
In response, Mumbai lost both openers inside the third over and were struggling. But Lad and captain Tare ensured there were no further slip-ups for the next 9 overs. Tare top scored with 71 and Lad and Abhishek Nayar scored useful thirties as Mumbai got to their target of 161 with five balls to spare.
Brief Scores: Kerala 160/7 (20) (Rohan Prem 69; SV Trivedi 3/34) lost to Mumbai 164/4 (19.1) (Tare 71, Nayar 38) by 6 wickets.
After a strong start, a middle order collapse meant Jharkhand could only manage 133/7 in their 20 overs, which didn't prove to be too much trouble for Uttar Pradesh, who maintained their status as the only unbeaten team still in the tournament.
Three of Jharhand's top five scored at least 25 but lost four wickets in 10 balls towards the end and could only muster 133 when a total of 150 seemed like the bare minimum on a pitch that wasn’t a minefield by any means.
And so it proved as Uttar Pradesh's openers put on a century partnership and allayed any fears. They eventually won the match by 9 wickets with 19 balls to spare as their captain Suresh Raina guided them home with an unbeaten 20 off just 11 balls.
Brief Scores: Jharkhand 133/7 (20) (Shasheem 40; Amit Mishra 2/14) lost to Uttar Pradesh 134/1 (16.5) (S Singh 64, P Gupta 42) by 9 wickets.
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