Kerala shock defending champions Saurashtra

Four times former champions Mumbai outplayed Sikkim by seven wickets at KSCA Cricket Ground, Alur, Bengaluru in their opening Group A league match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over competition on Thursday 23rd November, 2023. In a one sided match which lasted just over one innings, Sikkim were bundled out for 89 in 38.1 overs, after being 63 for 2 at one stage. Pacer Tushar Deshpande (3/19) triggered the collapse by having the well set opener Pankaj (14) and middle order batter Nilesh Lamichaney (29) caught behind by wicket keeper Prasad Pawar in his back to back overs of his second spell. Incidentally the two batters who had staged a brief recovery with their 51 runs sedate partnership in 109 balls, for the third wicket after their team were reduced to 11 for 2 in less than six overs. Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals thereafter with none of the Sikkim batters managing to reach double figures. Pacer Mohit Avasthi who bowled a brilliant spell (7-3-9-2) along with left arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar were the other successful bowler for Mumbai with two wickets each, while  ended up with two wickets along with Shams Mulani who took a wicket each.

In response Mumbai’s opening pair of Angkrish Raghuvanshi (30) and Jay Bista (28), provided a flying start by putting on 44 in five overs, laced with four boundaries each, before the later was dismissed by veteran pacer Summit Singh. The ex-Services pacer Sumit (2/27) later also ended Prasad Pawar (14) brief stay before the end of the first powerplay. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored a breezy unbeaten 15 off nine balls which included a six off experienced off-spinner Lee Yong Lepcha to long-on region, before the bowler had trapped Under-19 world cupper Angkrish plumb in front of the wicket with victory in sight. Ajinkya in the company of Sarfaraz Khan (2 n.o.) later guided Mumbai home without any further damage.

Mumbai next take on Kerala in their second league match on Saturday 25th November, 2023, who shocked defending champion’s by three wickets, after successfully chasing a target of 186 in the 48th over. The Sanju Samson led side were well served by a resourceful 98 runs fifth wicket alliance between all-rounders Akhil Scaria (28) and Abdul Bazith P A (60)  after they lost four wickets in 16.5 overs including their skipper for 30. Leg spinner Shreyas Gopal (21 n.o.) who took two wickets earlier latter batted till the end in the company of pacer Basil Thampi (8 n.o.) to ensure Kerala home.

Earlier Vishvarajsinh Jadeja (98) added valuable 69 runs for the eight wicket in the company of his skipper J Unadkat (37) that ensured Saurashtra put up a competitive score after being reduced to 65 for 7 in the 24th over by 21 year old young pacer Akhin Sathar four wicket haul (10-1-39-4). Vishvarajsinh  who slammed five fours and as many sixes was the last batter to be dismissed two runs short of the triple figure mark in the final over of the innings to the guile of Shreyas (2/20), not before he achieved his career best score in the 50-over format.

In other Group A league matches Pondicherry defeated Railways by 22 runs after being bowled out for 172 in 49.1 overs, while Odisha triumphed over Tripura by four wickets with over 26.4 overs to spare.

 Brief Scores (Group A 1^st round league match):

Sikkim – 89 all out in in 38.1 overs (Nilesh Lamichaney 29 (57b: 2x4s), Pankaj 14 (74b); Tushar Deshpande 3/19, Mohit Avasthi 2/9, Atharva Ankolekar 2/13,Shams Mulani 1/18,) lost to Mumbai – 90/3 in 12 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi  30 (28b:4x4s), Jay Bista 28 (22b: 4x4s, 1x6s), Prasad Pawar 14 (11b: 3x4s), Ajinkya Rahane 15* (9b: 1x4s, 1x6) by 7 wickets and 38 overs to spare.