Syed Mushtaq Ali T20: Baroda edge Mumbai, to face UP in final

Baroda clinched a thriller against Mumbai to enter the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament on Monday. They play Uttar Pradesh in the summit clash in Mumbai on Wednesday by virtue of a better net run rate.

Chasing 152, Baroda had to score the runs in 19.1 overs to qualify. The visitors made heavy weather as they reached the target in 19 overs.

The Irfan Pathan-led side got off on a disastrous note losing opening batsman Kedhar Devdhar on the very first ball of their innings. Mrunal Devdhar and Hardik Pandya then steadied the ship adding 28 runs. And then Pandya joined forces with Deepak Hooda as Baroda inched closer to their target.

Bhargav Bhatt clinched it for Baroda with a boundary in the penultimate over. Earlier, Mumbai, riding on a half-century from Suryakumar Yadav, posted a respectable total.

In other match, UP overcame Delhi’s challenge to make the final. The Suresh Raina-led team, chasing 158/7, were reduced to 68/5 in the 11th over. But Eklavya Dwivedi has other plans as he took control of the chase with an unbeaten 49.

Scores Mumbai 151/5 in 20 overs (Suryakumar 57*) lost to Baroda 153/9 in 19 overs (Deepak Hooda 53, Pravin Tambe 3/26). Delhi 158/6 in 20 overs (U. Chand 48, P. Negi 41*) lost to Uttar Pradesh 159/7 in 19.4 overs (E. Dwivedi 49*). Vidarbha 105 in 19.3 overs (M. Krishnan 3/29, N. Nizar 3/14) lost to Kerala 109/8 in 18.4 overs (A. Wakhare 3/26). Jharkhand 142/6 in 20 overs lost to Gujarat 146/4 in 14.1 overs