Yusuf shines as Baroda pip Saurashtra to enter knockout stage

Mumbai: Baroda produced a clinical display to defeat Saurashtra by 26 runs in the West Zone T20 league game here on thursday and qualify for the all-India knockout stage to be held from next week.

Led by skipper Yusuf Pathan`s blistering knock of 28- ball 54, Baroda posted a challenging total of 142 for seven at the MCA BKC Ground and then shot out their rivals for 116 to notch up their third straight victory in the round robin.

Baroda have 12 points with a game in hand against Maharashtra tomorrow in the five-team league.

Yusuf struck three fours and four sixes out of which, two fours and as many sixes came in successive balls against left-arm spinner Arpit Vasavada in the 14th over. He completed his half century with a straight six off Abhishek Bhat but perished a ball later.

Opener Aditya Waghmode and one down batter Rakesh Solanki contributed 22 and 29, respectively.

Bhat and Kuldip Rawal picked up two wickets each while Vasavada gave away 42 runs and bagged
one wicket.

Chasing the target, Saurashtra were bundled out in 18.4 overs after losing two quick wickets at the start of the innings.

Opener Cheteshwar Pujara (8) was trapped leg before while playing on the backfoot to Irfan Pathan in the first ball of the third over, while one-down Sheldon Jackson was dismissed thanks to a brilliant catch by Kedar Jadhav off Munaf Patel in the next over.

Skipper Jaydev Shah was the top scorer with a 29-ball 23 that included two fours, while lower order batsman Rawal chipped in with a 15-ball 19.

For Baroda, Munaf Patel, Lukman Meriwala and Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets each, while Irfan and Krunal Pandya got a wicket apiece.

This was Saurashtra`s third straight loss in the tournament and they are out of contention for the next stage.

"It was a crucial knock for us to qualify (to the next

round) and this match was very important for us. I am feeling good and the team has also qualified," Yusuf told reporters after the match.

Yusuf and his brother Irfan may not be available to play in the knockout stage because they would by then be preparing for the IPL commencing on April 16 in the UAE.

"I don`t know whether we will be available to play there or not. It is up to the association (Baroda CA). If they want us to play then probably they will speak to BCCI.

"If they give us permission, then obviously we would like to play, because the boys are doing well and we (brothers) are doing well. We have the momentum now and if in the next round, we are given the permission to play and if we play then it is good for the team, for the youngsters and Baroda Cricket Association," he added.

Pujara said his side was inexperienced and hadn`t played enough T20 matches.

"Unfortunately, we didn`t win any of the games out of the three. It is an inexperienced side. We haven`t played too many T20 games so we guys are learning. We did decently in the four-day format this year," the India Test batsman said.

Brief scores: Baroda 142 for 7 (Yusuf Pathan 54, Rakesh Solanki 29, Aditya Waghmode 22;


Abhishek Bhat 2 for 33, Kuldip Rawal 2 for 5) beat Saurashtra 116 all out in 18.2 overs (Jayadev Shah 23, Kuldip Rawal 19, Bhushan Chauhan 18; Munaf Patel 2 for 13, Lukman Meriwala 2 for 15, Hardik Pandya 2 for 11).