Nepal won the match by 27 runs against Baroda. Nepal Posted a total of 156 runs to the board while batting first after losing the coin flip in game No. 3 of the SMS T20 Cup or 2nd game against Baroda after defeating Gujarat in the Inaugural match of the SMS Friendship T20 Cup by 8 wickets while chasing the target of 98 runs.
Baroda invited the visitor to bat first. Regular openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh came to open for Nepal whereas Baba Khan opened with a new ball for Baroda. Baba Khan strikes early for Baroda and dismissed Kushal Bhurtel for just 9 runs in 11 deliveries. Anil Shah came to bat at No. 3 for Nepal. At the end of 4 over Nepal was 21/1 with Anil and Sheikh in the middle for Nepal.
Another opening Batter Aasif Sheikh didn’t resist himself to play a big shot in the power play over but mistimed the ball. An easy catch was taken by the Vishnu and Parikshit got his 1st wicket. Sheikh departed scoring 9 runs in 12 deliveries.
Skipper Rohit Kumar Poudel came to stabilize the inning after 2 early wickets. Nepal at the end of power play 26/2. Skipper departed scoring 18 runs in 12 balls including 3 fours in his name after an unfortunate run out while trying to convert single into doubles.
Gulshan Kumar jha came to bat at No 5 for Nepal, and Anil and Gulshan jha started building a partnership for Nepal. Both were looking set but Anil Shah departed scoring 25 runs in 26 balls with strike rate of 95.
Sundeep Jora came to bat after Anil’s departure. Gulshan Jha also got dismissed by Mohit Mongia after an easy catch taken by Vishnu. Jha departed scoring just 13(14) Nepal was 82/5. Big Hitter Kushal Malla came out at Crease with the intent to set bars high for Baroda in runchase.
Malla and Jora played well moving the scoreboard toward a defendable total for Nepal. The partnership between two set batters is dismantled after a brilliant run out when Batter tried to make a single to a double. Jora departed playing a quick knock of 29 runs in 16 deliveries for Nepal.
All-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee came to bat after the departure of Jora. Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee played till the end for Nepal posting 156 on the boards. Kushal Malla played a crucial knock of unbeaten 40 runs in 25 deliveries while Airee managed to get 5 runs in 5 balls.
On the bowling side, Baba Khan picked up 2 wickets giving away just 23 runs in 4 in his 4-overs spell with an economy of 5.75. Mohit Mongia and Parikshit Patidar picked up 1 wicket each for Baroda giving away 15 runs and 28 runs respectively. Dhruv Patel, Lakshit Toksiya, and Hemant Punde remain wicketless for Baroda.
Here’s the bowling Figures of Baroda
The Runchase
With 157 needed to register the first win for Baroda, Kinit and Amit Pasi came to open for Baroda while Karan Kc started with the new ball for Nepal. KC strikes in the second ball of the over dismissing Kinit for a golden duck after Anil Shah took a brilliant catch in the slip with a dive to the right.
Shashwat Rawat came to bat at No 3 for Baroda but got dismissed for a duck with LBW by Karan KC and Baroda lost their second wicket in the 1st over. After the first 2 over Baroda was 7/2. Mohit Mangia came out to bat at No 4 for Baroda.
Sompal Kami was brought for his second over and Kami didn’t upset the skipper in his second over dismissing Mohit Mongia for just 3 (9). Baroda lost their 3rd wicket for just 21 runs in 3.4 overs.
Skipper Vishnu Solanki came into the crease after 3 quick wickets of Baroda. Gulshan Jha who was awarded player of the match in the previous encounter against Gujarat came to bowl his first over. Amit Pasi played toward fine leg and tried for a single but got out with the brilliant throw from Dipendra Singh Airee. Baroda was in deep trouble after losing 4 wickets for just 21 runs. Amit Pasi departed scoring 14 runs.
Parikshit came out at No 6 for Baroda after Baroda suffered a top-order batting collapse. Gulshan Jha strikes to dismiss Prikshit Patidar for a duck with Airee taking a simple catch in short cover. Tension peaked for Baroda as half of the Baroda side was back to Pavilion and the board had just 22 runs for 5 wickets. Bhanu Pania came to the crease At the end of Power Playplay Baroda was at 29/5.
Vishnu and Bhanu was looking strong backing themselves slowly and establishing themselves in the runchase but Skipper got dismissed after a brilliant catch by Rohit Paudel. Vishnu Solanki departed scoring 25 runs off 31 balls.
New man Dhruv Patel came to bat with intent to get off the mark. Dipendra Singh Airee was brought into attack after a long wait and Airee bowled a yorker to clean bowled Dhruv Patel for just 4 (4) Baroda was 88/7. Abhinash Bohara dismissed the set man Bhanu Pania for 38 runs in 25 deliveris with KC taking the catch.Baba Khan and Hemant were two new mwn in the crease struggling with the run rate Nepal had maintained with strict bowling line and length. Karan KC strikes again in the 19th over to dismiss Hemant with Kushal Mall taking beautiful catch.Hemant departed scoring 7 runs in 11 deliveries.
last man Lakshit cam out to bat for Baroda when 40 runs were needed off 6 balls. Bohara dismissed Baba Khan with nailed yorker into the pad and Baroda were bundled up for just 129 runs iniside 20 overs and Nepal won the match with 27 runs.
On the Bowling side , Karan Kc strike early in the first over taking 3 big wickets giving away just 24 runs in his 4 over spell. Sompal Kami also took 2 wickets giving away just 20 runs. Dipendra Singh Airee took 1 wickets giving away for just 17 runs in 2 over. Gulshan Jha picked up 1 wickets for the side giving away just 18 runs while Abhinash picked 2 wickets for Nepal.
At the end Nepal won the match against Baroda by runs. With this win over Baroda, Nepal showcased strong contender for Final winning 2 out of 2 games. Baroda lose both of the matches while Baroda is still to get off the marks. Nepal will play tommorow with Gujarat and 5th April again with Baroda. Final will be played on 7th of April.