Prithvi misses ton as Mumbai thrash Baroda

Prithvi Shaw, skipper Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer struck timely half centuries as Mumbai thrashed Baroda by nine wickets in both the teams’ opening game of Vijay Hazare Trophy here Wednesday. The two teams are placed in Elite Group ‘A’ for the National One Day Championships that kicked off at multiple venues.

Opting to bat, Baroda were bundled out for a modest 238 in 49.5 overs with all-rounder Krunal Pandya top-scoring with 85 (8 fours and 2 sixes). Such was the dominance of Mumbai’s top order that they chased the target without much fuss in just 41.3 overs. Shaw (98), who missed a deserving hundred by a whisker, and Rahane (79 not out) conjured a 137-run first wicket stand. Rahane, who was struggling in the Test series in England, was back among runs.

After Shaw departed, the India Test vice-captain in the company of Shreyas Iyer (56 not out) made opposition bowlers toil as the two took their side home.

While Rahane struck six boundaries and a six, Shaw laced his innings with 12 boundaries and five sixes. Iyer, who was ignored for the ongoing Asia Cup, smashed five fours and two hits over the fence.

Earlier, experienced Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni returned with figures of 4-39 and was ably aided by Vijay Gohil (2-20).

Yusuf

Pathan’s 40 and Pinal Shah’s 32 helped Baroda to go past the 230 runmark, but that wasn’t enough in the end.

Bihar return in style

Bihar returned to domestic cricket with an easy eightwicket win over Nagaland in a plate group match.

Back to the domestic fold after a gap of 18 years, Bihar put up a solid batting display led by Babul Kumar’s 121 not out to cruise to the 254-run target with 38 balls to spare.

Babul’s knock came off just 119 balls with 15 fours and a six as he along with opener Vikash Ranjan (47) put together 116 runs to lay the foundation. After Ranjan’s departure, the No. 3 batsman held the fort with Keshav Kumar joining the party with a brisk 76 not out off 69 balls, studded with six fours and three sixes in match-winning 130 unbroken partnership.

Opting to bat, debutants Nagaland got off to a promising start with opener Nitesh Lochab’s 79 from 69 balls. But Samar Quadri (3-35) put on the brakes with a twin blow to restricted to a modest 253-8.