Baroda defeat Railways by 180 runs

Bengaluru, Sept. 30: Baroda put up a comprehensive all- round performance to thrash Railways by 180 runs in their Elite Group A game of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here on Sunday.

With this victory, Baroda stay in the hunt to make it to the next round as five teams from the group can make it to the second round based on points and NRR. Opting to bat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Baroda posted a healthy 269 for 9 on the board before bundling out Railways for a paltry 89. Baroda opener Aditya Waghmode ( 74) top- scored while medium pacer Babashafi Pathan ( 5- 25) grabbed a five- wicket haul as the two starred in their side’s victory.

Baroda were off to a positive start with Kedar Devdhar ( 44) and Waghmode putting on 88 for the first wicket. One down Krunal Pandya ( 62) and skipper Deepak Hooda ( 54) played their part to perfection before the Railways bowlers made a good comeback to restrict Baroda to 269. Then Baroda bowlers, led by right- arm medium pacer Pathan, blew away the Railways batsmen.

Pathan was ably supported by Lukman Meriwala ( 2- 14) while Atit Sheth and Krunal Pandya also shared the spoils. Such was the dominance by Baroda bowlers that no Railways batsman could even individually cross the 25- run mark. In another Elite Group A encounter at Alur, spinners Shreyas Gopal and K Gowtham starred in Karnataka’s six- wicket win against Vidarbha by sharing six wickets equally.

Experienced Surya Kumar Yadav ( 123 not out) notched up a gritty hundred to help Mumbai register a six- wicket win against Himachal Pradesh in another Elite Group A game.

Bihar script a record

292- run win

Bihar shot out Sikkim for 46 on the way to a record 292- run win in a plate group match.

This is the biggest win in terms of runs in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, eclipsing Baroda’s win by 279 runs against Assam last season.

Sent in, Bihar amassed 338 for six in the stipulated 50 overs with Rahmatullah smashing a 103- ball 156 before retiring hurt with the team’s score at 307.