Table-toppers of the West Zone T20 League, Baroda, coasted to a six-wicket win after restricting Maharashtra to 139 for seven in their last game of the league. Yusuf Pathan took his team to yet another thumping victory with a 24-ball 57. With Rakesh Solanki, he smothered the Maharashtra attack in a 73-run partnership as they chased down the target with 15 balls to spare.
Earlier, after electing to bat first, Maharashtra’s steady start was ended by Lukman Meriwala for 30. Vijay Zol, who was opening and appeared to be in good form, had his stumps disrupted soon. The young Maharashtra batsman has not been among the runs in the ongoing tournament and once again departed early. However, his opening partner Harshad Khadiwale was in sublime touch. He struck Irfan Pathan for couple of boundaries to claim 10 runs from the first over and continued to score at a steady pace.
Ankit Bawne, who replaced Zol in the middle, was posed a few questions by Hardik Pandya, but the batsman countered him with a six and four over point. The bowler, however, got a scalp in the next over. Although the wicketkeeper was not able to hold on to the ball after Khadiwale edged it, the batsman wasn’t allowed to capitalise on the life and was sent back later in the over.
Bawne followed him back into the hut 10 runs later. Backing up at the non-striker’s end, he was run out as the bowler got his hand to ball after Rahul Tripathi hit it straight back. Kedar Jadhav was next to return to the pavilion. After sweeping Krunal Pandya for four, he was stumped off the bowler.
As the innings entered the last quarter, Nikhil Naik was run out. And a bit later, Shrikant Mundhe, who was looking in good nick, found his bails clipped by Irfan after hitting him for a four. Tripathi then helped garner 11 more in the over to take the team to 111. Tripathi and Chirag Khurana added 11 more in the next over, but Irfan ended the stand in the penultimate over. Tripathi took a swing at the ball in an attempted big hit, but the ball lobbed up and was caught by Krunal Pandya. Khurana powered Irfan straight down as he looked to build a modest total with Akshay Darekar.
Although they lost wickets at regular intervals, Maharashtra had posted a respectable 139 on the board.
A direct hit by Khadiwale from mid-wicket ran out Aditya Waghmode to leave Baroda on nine for one in the second over. And Kedar Devdhar offered a catch to the wicketkeeper off Khurana nine runs later. Rakesh Solanki and Hardik took the innings forward with a 49-run partnership until Mundhe struck to halt it. The in-form Hardik had sent Darekar sailing over the off side for a six and then pulled Bawne over the ropes, before Mundhe took the edge of his bat and the ball was caught by Naik behind the stumps. Two balls later, the pacer caught Deepak Hooda off his own bowling to give Maharashtra a double break in the over. Handed the ball with Baroda cruising, Mundhe delivered a wicket-maiden to leave the opposition on 69 for four.
Yusuf Pathan, who then joined Rakesh Solanki in the middle, displayed his big-hitting skills. He lofted Mundhe over mid-on for a six as he took Baroda forward. He continued to hit the ball all around the ground as he took Baroda past 100.
With 36 required off 30 balls, and Yusuf and Solanki milking the bowlers, Baroda were in a commanding position. The pair clobbered the opposition to scale the target.
