Yuvraj, Harbhajan star for Punjab; Mumbai triumphs
Veterans Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh dug deep into their reservoir of experience as star- studded Punjab held their nerves to pip Karnataka via eliminator in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy Super League round here on Sunday.
In the day's second match at the Jadavpur University second campus ground, Virat Singh's sterling 81 off 49 balls (3x6s, 6x4s) went in vain, as Jharkhand faltered while chasing 171 to pave the way for Mumbai's 13-run win.
With the scores tied while chasing 159, Punjab scored 15 runs in the one-over eliminator with Yuvraj hitting a boundary and Mandeep Singh smacking K Gowtham for a six.
In reply, Karnataka managed just 11 runs with Siddarth Kaul keeping his cool while bowling the super over for Punjab.
Yuvraj was at his vintage best while fielding at square leg region and took two stunning catches to help dismissed Stuart Binny (2) and C M Gautam (36) in one over.
Yuvraj leaked 17 runs while bowling, with Gautam (36 from 31 balls) hitting him for two sixes and one boundary in the 13th over.
But the out-of-favour India southpaw made it up for his bowling profligacy when he ran to deep square leg to take a one-handed diving catch. He also took another catch diving forward.
Earlier, chasing a modest 159 after opting to bowl, Punjab were in control with opener Mandeep Singh laying the foundation with a 29-ball 45.
Promoting himself at No 3, Harbhajan struck 33 from 19 balls (5x4s, 1x6) while Yuvraj's 29 off 25 balls had five boundaries including a regal cover drive. This was after the Punjab skipper bowled another economical spell, finishing with 1 for 21 in 4 overs. But Sreenath Aravind (4/32) swung the match in Karnataka's favour with successive wickets in the 16th over.
Yuvraj edged one to the keeper while in the next ball Abhishek Gupta was also dismissed, edging one to the keeper Gautam, as Punjab required 31 off 26 balls.
Sharad Lumba (20) kept them in the hunt as 14 runs were needed off the last two overs.
At the Eden Gardens, Delhi cantered to an eight-wicket win over Tamil Nadu riding left-arm medium pacer Kulwant Khejroliya's 4/26 and Rishabh Pant's 33-ball 58.
Put in to bat, Tamil Nadu posted 145/7. Delhi, despite skipper Gautam Gambhir scoring only 21, eased to the target in 15.2 overs. Brief Scores: Karnataka 158/7 20 overs: (Aniduddha Joshi 40, C M Gaut am 36; Baltej Singh 3/21, Manpreet Singh Gony 2/8) tied with Punjab 158/9; 20 overs: (Mandeep Singh 45, Harbhajan Singh 33, Yuvraj Singh 29; Sreenath Aravind 4/32). Punjab won in one- over eliminator. Mumbai 170/5; 20 overs: (Siddhesh Lad 46, Aditya Tare 45, Suryakumar Yadav 33 not out) beat Jharkhand 157/7; 20 overs: (Virat Singh 81, Saurabh Tiwary 32) by 13 runs.