Batters fail VidarbhaChasing Chhattisgarh’s 133-9, Vidarbha were shot out for 106 in 19.1 overs

 

 

AFTER having done pretty well in the red-ball format, Vidarbha batters flopped in unison to lose their opening Elite Group A match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) Trophy in Lucknow on Wednesday. Leading Vidarbha senior squad for the first time, skipper Harsh Dubey (2-13 and 26 runs) was he lone shining light as the team went down to Chhattisgarh by 27 runs at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium B. Chasing Chhattisgarh’s 133-9, Vidarbha did not last the entire distance and were shot out for a meagre 106 in 19.1 overs. Vidarbha top-order batters came a cropper with top four back in the dug-out for 26 in 5.2 overs.

 

 

Soon, they were 7-55 in 11th over. Dubey (26; 22b, 3x4) and Nalkande (21; 24b, 2x4) added 42 runs in as many balls to spark a brief revival. With asking run-rate pressure mounting, both departed within eight runs. As many as seven batsmen, like their rivals also, failed to score in double digits. Chhattisgarh’s right-arm medium pacer from Hyderabad Ravi Kiran (3-0-10-2), who got rid of Mokhade and Rathod in his successive overs, was named player of the match. Earlier, Vidarbha bowlers did well to restrict Chhattisgarh after winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Dubey (2-13), Yash Thakur (3-25) and Darshan Nalkande (2-26) shared the spoils. Shashank Singh (34; 22b, 1x4, 3x6) and opener Ayush Pandey (31; 25b, 3x4, 2x6) were among the top two run-getters. Vidarbha next take on star-studded Mumbai on Friday in the afternoon game.