JOIN USBaroda and Punjab advanced to the semifinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali all-India T20 tournament after notching up victories in their respective quarterfinal matches here on Sunday.
Ambati Rayudu scored a brisk 56-ball 66 to guide Baroda to a comprehensive four-wicket victory over Bengal, while Punjab beat Madhya Pradesh by seven wickets at Bandra Kurla Complex.
Electing to field, Baroda restricted Bengal to a modest 111 for seven in their stipulated 20 overs. Baroda then weathered some early storm before easing home with four balls to spare.
Rayudu was the top-scorer and his innings was laced with nine fours and two sixes. In the other quarterfinal, VRV Singh (4/24) and Manpreet Gony (3/5) restricted Madhya Pradesh to 120 for nine. before Punjab replied with 123/8 riding on Gurkeerat Singh’s knock (57 n.o.)
MP was tottering at 16 for six in 5.2 overs and if it had not been for the 74-run partnership between Rameez Khan (45) and Ankit Sharma (41) for the seventh wicket, they would have been shot for a paltry score.
Baroda will take on Delhi in the first semifinal on Monday, while in the second semis Mumbai will lock horns with Punjab.
Brief scores: Bengal: 111/7 in 20 overs (Laxmi Ratan Shukla 27; Murtuja Vahora 2-18, Ketan Panchal 2-23) lt to Baroda: 114/6 in 19.2 overs (Ambati Rayudu 66; Shami Ahmed 3-14).
Madhya Pradesh: 120/9 in 20 overs (Rameez Khan 45, Ankit Sharma 41; VRV Singh 4-24, MS Gony
3-5, Harbhajan Singh 2-23) lt to Punjab: 123/8 in 18 overs (Gurkeerat Singh 57 n.o., Mandeep Singh 28; TP Sudheendra 2-18).