Uttar Pradesh became the first team in five matches to defend successfully at the Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 Group A Super League, here on Thursday.
Specialist batsmen demolished the Goa attack to help North Zone pile up 186 in 20 overs on the day three morning. A two-wicket burst from India seamer Praveen Kumar nudged Goa’s chase off-track as the South Zone topper managed only 138 to lose by 48 runs.
Praveen (2-0-8-2) struck in the third over, dismissing opener Sagun Kamat with his third ball and the dangerous Swapnil Asnodkar with his sixth delivery.
Kamat was foxed by change of pace and Asnodkar perished trying to step inside the line for a forcing shot through the off-side. A message was sent to captain Akshdeep Nath to try out other bowling options and give the spearhead a breather.
Needing desperate measures to climb out of a hole at 61 for four in 10 overs and facing a huge target of 187,
Goa strokemakers chanced their arm but the gap was too wide to bridge. Harshad Gadekar stepped out to wallop three back-to-back sweetly-time sixes off Rinku Singh over mid-wicket.
The overs ran out and the chase ended 48 runs shot.
Gadekar emerged Goa’s top-scorer at number eight (33, 16b, 3x6) ahead of Rohit Asnodkar (31, 24b, 5x4) and Amogh Desai (30, 33b). UP did not need Praveen to complete his four-over quota.
Goa’s decision to field and allow bowlers to take advantage of the morning conditions at SCA stadium, Khanderi, backfired. UP openers Mukul Dagar (55, 38b, 8x4, 1x6) and Prashant Gupta (48, 36b, 5x4, 1x6) featured in a 100-stand in 12 overs.
Other batsmen also kept up the momentum as number three Eklavya Dwivedi slammed four sixes, one four in a 26-ball 43. UP crossed 50 in 6.3 overs, 100 (11.4) and 150 (17.3), to accomplish the highest total in this event so far.
The winner has eight points from two matches. For Goa, this loss follows a win in the opener.
Haryana’s second winHaryana notched up its second win in three Group A ties, beating Jharkhand by six wickets. Medium-pacer Kuldeep Hooda (five for 31) ran through the Jharkhand middle-order. Chasing 147 to win, opener Avi Barot got off the blocks quickly (37, 26b, 5x4, 1x6) for Haryana.
Guntashveer Singh (65 n.o., 44b) swung his bat at everything, the ball sailed into the stands when he connected. Seven sixes coming off the 20-year-old’s bat deflated Jharkhand. Haryana wrapped up the match in 18 overs.
The scores:
Uttar Pradesh 186 for three in 20 overs (Mukul Dagar 55, Prashant Gupta 46, Eklavya Dwivedi 43 n.o., Rinku Singh 26) bt Goa 138 for six in 20 overs (Amogh Desai 30, Rohit Asnodkar 31, Harshad Gadekar 33 n.o., Praveen Kumar two for eight). UP 4, Goa 0.
Jharkhand 146 for nine in 20 overs (Ishank Jaggi 57, Kuldeep Hooda five for 31, Ashish Hooda two for 27) lost to Haryana 149 for four in 18 overs (Guntashveer Singh 65 n.o., Avi Barot 37). Haryana 4, Jharkhand 0 .
