Siddharth bags four to help TN win Mushtaq Ali

M Siddharth’s four-wicket haul and Baba Aparajith’s unbeaten 29 helped Tamil Nadu defeat Baroda by seven wickets in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Motera Stadium on Sunday.

This is the second time Tamil Nadu won the T20 tournament. The last time they won the title was way back in the 2006-07 season.

Electing to field first, Tamil Nadu were able to restrict Baroda to a paltry 120/9 courtesy a 4/20 by left-arm spinner Siddharth.

It was largely due to a 58-run seventh-wicket stand between Vishnu Solanki (49 off 55 balls; 1x4; 2x6) and Atit Sheth (29 off 30 balls; 2x4;1x6) that Baroda after being reduced to 36/6 managed a three-figure total.

Siddharth used the pitch to his advantage by varying the pace and also using the crease well to create awkward angles for the batsmen.

Put into bat on a Sardar Patel Stadium track that offered both turn and bounce, Baroda lost left-handed opener Ninad Rathva (1) early as the move to start with spinners from both the ends paid off for Tamil Nadu. Rathva was caught by KB Arun Karthik off Aparajith (1/16). In-form skipper Kedar Devdhar (16), who had hammered three boundaries, could not convert his start and gave a sitter to Narayan Jagadeesan at cover as Siddharth picked up his first wicket.

Playing his first game of the tournament, Siddharth again did the trick and removed Smit Patel (1), after trapping him leg before.

Baroda lost their fourth wicket on the same score as Bhanu Pania (0) was run out. Siddharth picked his third wicket as Abhimanyusingh Rajput (2) lobbed him a return catch. Siddharth was on a roll as he picked his fourth scalp after forcing Kartik Kakade (4) to drag one back onto the stumps.

Chasing 121, Tamil Nadu lost Narayan Jagadeesan (14) early. But Nishaanth (35; 3x4; 1x6) continued playing his shots and was joined by Aparajith (29 not out off 35 balls) as Tamil Nadu reached 61/1 after 10 overs.

Skipper Dinesh Karthik played his part with a 16-ball 22.

Tamil Nadu needed 20 off 23 balls when he was dismissed. Brief scores: Baroda 120/9 (Vishnu Solanki 49, M Siddharth 4/20); Tamil Nadu 123/3 (Hari Nishanth 35). Tamil Nadu won by 7 wkts.