Matches (18)
IPL (3)
PAK v WI [W] (1)
BAN v IND [W] (1)
SL vs AFG [A-Team] (1)
NEP vs WI [A-Team] (1)
County DIV1 (4)
County DIV2 (3)
WT20 Qualifier (4)
Report

Mumbai down Saurashtra, Pujara fifty in vain

A round-up of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy West Zone matches played on April 2, 2014

Cheteshwar Pujara's second T20 half-century was in vain as Saurashtra fell short of Mumbai's total by 16 runs at the Bandra-Kurla Complex ground in Mumbai. Chasing 146, Pujara, who opened the batting, led the chase with a steady 60-ball 62 that included seven fours and a six but didn't receive any support from the other batsmen, with Sheldon Jackson's 26 being the only other 20-plus score. By the time Pujara was dismissed, caught behind off Zaheer Khan, the chase was almost over with 31 required off nine balls.
In the end, the runs scored by the Mumbai lower order ended up being the difference. Mumbai were tottering at 99 for 5 in the 18th over with Arpit Vasavada, with figures of 4 for 19, having inflicted the most damage, but Sarfraz Khan smashed four fours and a six in a quickfire 36 while Santosh Naik blitzed an unbeaten 23 in seven deliveries to spoil Saurashtra's good work.
Baroda made it two wins out of two matches after bowling Gujarat out for 79 at the Wankhede Stadium and chasing down the target with six wickets in hand. Gujarat, who chose to bat, were left ruing that decision as Irfan Pathan took three wickets in five balls to leave them 12 for 3 in the third over. They never recovered, with only two batsmen getting into double figures and Smit Patel's 28 their top score. Legspinner Hardik Pandya was Baroda's other big wicket-taker, finishing with figures of 3 for 7 in four overs.
Baroda were in similarly dire straits at 12 for 3, before their two bowling heroes got together and steered them to safety with a 58-run fourth-wicket partnership. Pandya was out for 37, while Irfan remained unbeaten on 21 as Baroda won with 16 balls remaining.