Vidarbha Mankaded!

 

 

 

ALL-ROUND show by Prerak Mankad complemented by opener Avi Barot and seamer Chetan Sakariya helped Saurashtra hand Vidarbha their second defeat in as many games of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Wednesday. After losing their tournament opener against Rajasthan, it was second loss for the former Ranji Trophy champions who are not very comfortable with shortest format of the game. Put into bat, Rajasthan scored a huge 233-7 with greenhorn part-timer Atharva Taide bleeding 32 runs in his one over.

 

 

 

Except for a brief period, Vidarbha never looked like getting those runs and were all out for 154 with the innings lasting 17.2 overs. After the huge losses, it looks all over for Vidarbha. Now, they will have to win all their remaining matches against Madhya Pradesh, Services and Goa (in that order on Jan 15, 17, 19) with good margin and hope that some results of other games go their way. Vidarbha had a good start as young seamers Darshan Nalkande (4-32) and Yash Thakur (2-47) took one wicket each to pin Saurashtra at 19-2 in 3.1 overs. But Mankad (59; 26b, 6x4, 4x6) changed complexion of the game with some lusty blows. After his departure, opener Avi Barot (93; 44b, 13x4, 4x6), who was silent by then, opened up. He was severe on young left-arm spinner Taide.

 

Arpit Vasavada (39; 20b, 2x4, 3x6) and Parth Chauhan (19*; 9b, 2x4, 1x6) made sure that the team did not lose momentum. With a huge asking rate to start with, Vidarbha openers Jitesh Sharma (43; 27b, 4x4, 3x6) and Taide (13; 12b, 3x4) gave the team a decent start adding 38 runs in 3.5 overs even after the latter played a maiden from left-arm seamer Sakariya (4-1-11-5). Mankad (4-0-48-4), who was hit for three fours in his first over, had the last laugh breaking the partnership claiming Taide.

 

Siddhesh Wath and Akshay Karnewar contributed an identical 21 while big-hitter Apoorv Wankhade showed glimpses of what he is capable of by scoring 18 from six balls. Earlier, in a freak incident, Vidarbha skipper Ganesh Satish collided with his opposite number Jaydev Unadkat while stealing a single and had to be out of action for treatment. On return, he could not add anything to his score getting out going for a big heave.