OPENER Ayush Mhatre sent Vidarbha bowlers to cleaners with his powerful hitting as Mumbai thrashed Vidarbha by seven wickets in their Elite Group A Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 match at Ekana Cricket Stadium B, in Lucknow on Friday. Mhatre cracked his maiden T20 unbeaten 110 from just 53 deliveries and punished Vidarbha bowlers as Mumbai chased down the challenging target of 193 runs in 17.5 overs only. This was Vidarbha’s sixth straight defeat to Mumbai in SMAT. The Harsh Dubey-led side looked clueless in front of Mhatre who single-handedly took his side home. This was Vidarbha’s second straight defeat in the tournament after they were stunned by Chhattisgarh by 27 runs in their opener. If Vidarbha batters failed against Chhattisgarh, it was the bowlers who bore the brunt against Mumbai.

 

Experienced Umesh Yadav was belted for 54 runs from his quota of four overs without any success. Mhatre, who was named captain of India U-19 team for Asia Cup, was severe on Yadav hitting him three sixes and four boundaries. He faced 16 deliveries and collected 43 runs from Yadav’s bowling. The 18-year-old Mhatre hit eight maximums and as many fours and remained unconquered with a strike rate of 207.05. Vidarbha bowlers looked pedestrian despite taking two early wickets. Nalkande trapped India player Ajinkya Rahane (0) on the third delivery of his first over and then Parth Rekhade got Hardik Tarmore (1) caught by Athrava Taide in the third over. But an 88-run third wicket partnership between Mumbai and India T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav (35; 30b, 4x4, 6x1) and Mhatre kept Mumbai ahead of Vidarbha. Suryakumar’s wicket in the 12th over gave Vidarbha a chance to bounce back but Mhatre and hard-hitting India T20 middle order bat Shivam Dube took their side home with an 88 runs partnership. Dube remained unbeaten on 39 which came from 19 deliveries and had three sixes and as many boundaries. Earlier, Vidarbha batters got the best start as they put up 115 runs for the opening wicket with Atharva Taide (64; 36b. 9x4, 1x6) and Aman Mokhade (61; 30b, 7x4, 2x6) both hitting a half century each. However, the middle-order failed to maintain the momentum and Vidarbha were unable to post a 200-plus total. Yash Rathod scored run-a-ball 23. Vidarbha will next play against Odisha on Sunday at 1.30 pm.