Jitesh hammers Vid’s fastest fifty

 

 

 

 

 

JITESH Sharma did exactly what he is known for ... performing finisher’s role to perfection. When the hard-hitting batter arrived at the crease, Vidarbha needed 86 runs from just 42 balls against Uttarakhand in their curtailed Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy Group ‘D’ league opener. Vice-captain Sharma blasted Vidarbha’s fastest half century making unbeaten 51 from 18 balls with the aid of five massive sixes and three fours. He was ably supported by another big-hitter Shubham Dubey, who also remained not out scoring 47 from 24 balls with four sixes and two fours, as Vidarbha raced to victory in 11.2 overs losing three wickets at PCA Ground, Mullanpur, Mohali on Monday.

 

In the 13-overs-a side match, Uttarakhand, put into bat, scored 141-3 with Avneesh Sudha (50; 33b, 6x4, 2x6) being the top scorer. With a license to hit, the batters opened the arms right from the word go. Five of six bowlers used by Vidarbha gave away ten of more runs per over. Seamer Darshan Nalkande picked two wickets while Akshay Karnewar chipped in with one.

 

Tall left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey made his Vidarbha debut sharing new ball with Nalkande and did a pretty decent job considering the situation. Vidarbha’s new skipper Atharva Taide (15) and new professional player Dhruv Shorey (9) started the chase and another new signee Karun Nair (16) kept the tempo scoring at about ten an over. But it was the pair of Sharma and Dubey, who took the game away from Uttarakhand with their lusty blows. Vidarbha next play Rajasthan on 19th.