VIDARBHA’S unimpressive run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament continued as they lost their fourth successive game on Sunday at Holkar Stadium in Indore. Their latest defeat came against Services who thrashed them by eight wickets in the inconsequential match played under lights. Services achieved the target of 151 in 17.2 overs losing just two wickets. If Vidarbha batsmen found form, their bowlers let the team down this time as they failed to defend the competitive score. Services’ opener Lakhan Singh scored a cracking half-century (66R, 49b, 8x4, 1x6) to hand his side first win of the competition.

 

Left-handed batsman Rahul Singh, too, slammed an unbeaten 55 as Services took first points from the game. Singh hit three sixes and five boundaries in his match winning innings. The opening pair of Lakhan and Navneet (20) put up 74 runs for the first wicket which laid the foundation for Services’ win. Navneet’s departure brought more pain for Vidarbha as Rahul joined Lakhan to punish the bowlers. Earlier, Vidarbha managed to score 150 runs with debutant left-hander Yash Rathod scoring the highest 36 runs from 31 deliveries. Vidarbha looked good with the bat initially with promoted Siddhesh Wath (29, 31b, 5x4, 1x6) continuing with his fine form.

 

He and Jitesh Sharma (12) added 27 runs for first wicket. But Sharma’s poor form with the bat continued as he was sent back by Nitin Yadav in the fifth over. Wath looked in punishing mood but he once again failed to convert his good start as he gave a return catch to pacer Nitin Yadav in the eighth over. Debutant Yash Rathod (36R, 31b, 5x4), coming in at number three, played without any pressure. He hit some excellent boundaries as Vidarbha posted 63 runs from 10 overs losing both the openers. Rathod showed promise and hit a beautiful boundary of Varun Choudhary in the 12th over.

 

He and new comer Mohit Raut added 32 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter lobbed a simple catch at long off in the 15th over. But not before hitting a huge six straight into the sight screen off Nitin Tanwar in the 14th over. Rathod continued his entertaining innings. He picked up a boundary with a ‘Dilscoop’ shot in the 16th over and tried to increase Vidarbha’s scoring rate. Big-hitter Apoorv Wankhade (26R, 14b,1x4, 2x6) slapped a six over mid-on and seemed to be back in form. But in an attempt to guide the ball behind the wicketkeeper, Rathod lost his wicket on the first ball of 17th over bowled by Choudhary. Choudhary was most successful bowler for Services with three wickets.