Abhinav Mukund’s affinity for the longer format of the game is well-documented. At 26 — his birthday was on Wednesday — the southpaw has already amassed 7,424 runs in 106 first-class matches. And with 2,931 runs in 60 innings, his record in List A cricket is no less prolific.
At the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday, Abhinav boosted his Twenty20 credentials with an authoritative 67 not out (36b, 7x4, 3x6) as Tamil Nadu thumped Gujarat by nine wickets to reclaim the top spot in Group A of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
R. Satish (4-0-13-2), W. Antony Das (4-0-19-3) and Rahil Shah (3.4-0-26-2) restricted the opposition to 105 for nine in 19.4 overs. But Tamil Nadu still had to score those runs, and the manner in which Abhinav went about his business was noteworthy, especially after R.P. Singh snared Dinesh Karthik (4) early.
Abhinav found an able ally in B. Aparajith (30 n.o., 31b, 1x4, 1x6), and the duo took Tamil Nadu over the finish line with more than eight overs to spare. Their 99-run stand came off just 10.2 overs.
The highlight of Abhinav’s knock was an 18-run caning he inflicted on left-arm spinner Hardik Patel. Comfortably placed at 81 for one after 11 overs, Abhinav smashed Patel for a clean six down the ground before collecting boundaries off the last three deliveries to register his second fifty in the format. He also hit the winning runs — a classic step-out-and-loft for six over long-on.
Gujarat and Vidarbha also have 12 points each, but Tamil Nadu’s superior net run-rate (+1.887) keeps it on top.
Earlier, 20-year-old Raxlee Taylor (44 n.o., 38b, 4x4, 1x6) gave a good account of himself. Gujarat was dealt a blow when opener Priyank Panchal retired hurt. When Parthiv Patel hit the first ball of the match in the direction of his partner, bowler Satish rushed to fetch it, and thudded into the 25-year-old. Panchal fell down and injured his hamstring. He was escorted off the field. Gujarat’s woes were compounded after Parthiv (4) had a rare off day.
Vidarbha’s three-in-a-rowSkipper Faiz Fazal hit a composed 49 (44b, 1x4, 2x6) and Apoorv Wankhade scored an unbeaten 37 (27b, 4x4) as host Vidarbha beat Bengal by four wickets to notch up its third straight victory.
HP wins a nail-biterAkshay Chauhan picked up three wickets and then scored 15 runs off seven balls as Himachal Pradesh beat Haryana in a game which went down to the wire. Amit Mishra led Haryana in place of an ailing Virender Sehwag, who had to fly back home. Haryana has lost all four games.
Friday is a rest day.
The scores: Gujarat 105 for nine in 19.4 overs (Raxlee Taylor 44 n.o., R. Satish two for 13, W. Antony Das three for 19, Rahil Shah two for 26) lost to Tamil Nadu 111 for one in 12.5 overs (Abhinav Mukund 67 n.o., B. Aparajith 30 n.o.). Points:Gujarat 0 (12), Tamil Nadu 4 (12) .
Bengal 147 for five in 20 overs (Sayan Mandal 52, Abhisek Das 56, Akshay Karnewar two for 26) lost to Vidarbha 151 for six in 19.2 overs (Faiz Fazal 49, Apoorv Wankhade 37 n.o., Mukesh Kumar two for 23). Bengal 0 (8), Vidarbha 4 (12) .
Haryana 122 in 20 overs (Harshal Patel 26, Rahul Dagar 39, Akshay Chauhan three for 24, Bipul Sharma three for 20) lost to Himachal Pradesh 123 for eight in 19.2 overs (Robin Bist 27, Ashish Hooda three for 15, Amit Mishra two for 26). Haryana 0 (0), HP 4 (8) .
