<p>On the back of an all-round show, Tamil Nadu notched a comfortable six-wicket victory over Baroda to enter the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.<br /><br />Baroda, electing to bat, folded up for 219 in 49.3 overs. They were kept in check by Tamil Nadu spinners, who bowled a tight line in accordance with the field set. <br /><br />Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore returned with figures of 4-59. And though the southern side lost their openers early, Dinesh Karthik (77) and captain Vijay Shankar (53 n.o.) played innings of substance to fashion a successful chase in 47.3 overs.<br /><br />After pacer Atit Sheth removed the openers for 35 runs, Karthik forged two crucial partnerships -- of 60 runs with Baba Aparajit for the third-wicket and 88 for the fourth with Shankar. On a slow track, Karthik put his experience to good use. He began briskly, before settling down to build the innings in the calm company of Shankar. The wicket-keeper batsman, who brought his half century with a single to long-off, fell to Sheth in the 42nd over. Karthik had come forward to charge the seamer, but the ball swung in and hit the top of off-stump.<br /><br />With Tamil Nadu needing 37 to win, offie Washington Sundar, who had taken 2-20 in the morning, replaced Karthik. The left-handed batsman took his time before opening his arms for two sixes off Soaeb Tai. Alongwith Shankar, he provided the finishing touches.<br /><br />Earlier, Baroda openers Kedar Devdhar and Aditya Waghmode mustered 92 runs. Krunal Pandya pushed the scoring with a 39-ball 30 after Deepak Hooda was bowled by Washington for a duck. With strokeplay difficult in the conditions and Tamil Nadu superb in the outfield, Yusuf Pathan struggled for timing and the pressure was on Pandya to push the scoring.<br /><br />However, left-arm spinner Rahil Shah removed both Pandya and Yusuf Pathan off successive deliveries to increase Baroda's woes. Pandya was caught superbly by M Mohammad who ran to his right before diving to take the catch. Pathan’s lofted attempt was undone by Aswin Crist who took another good catch at mid-on.<br /><br />Pinal Shah (36) stitched 44 runs with captain Irfan Pathan for the sixth wicket and 30 more with Swapnil Singh to help cross the 200-run mark, but against the quality of Tamil Nadu, Baroda ended up posing a light challenge.<br />DH News Service<br /><br />Brief scores: Baroda: 219 all out in 49.3 overs (Kedar Devdhar 46, Aditya Waghmode 45, Pinal Shah 36; Aswin Crist 2-22, Rahil Shah 2-36, Washington Sundar 2-20, R Sai Kishore 4-59) lt to Tamil Nadu: 220/4 in 47.3 overs (Baba Aparajith 28, Dinesh Karthik 77, Vijay Shankar 53, Atit Sheth 3-36).</p>
<p>On the back of an all-round show, Tamil Nadu notched a comfortable six-wicket victory over Baroda to enter the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.<br /><br />Baroda, electing to bat, folded up for 219 in 49.3 overs. They were kept in check by Tamil Nadu spinners, who bowled a tight line in accordance with the field set. <br /><br />Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore returned with figures of 4-59. And though the southern side lost their openers early, Dinesh Karthik (77) and captain Vijay Shankar (53 n.o.) played innings of substance to fashion a successful chase in 47.3 overs.<br /><br />After pacer Atit Sheth removed the openers for 35 runs, Karthik forged two crucial partnerships -- of 60 runs with Baba Aparajit for the third-wicket and 88 for the fourth with Shankar. On a slow track, Karthik put his experience to good use. He began briskly, before settling down to build the innings in the calm company of Shankar. The wicket-keeper batsman, who brought his half century with a single to long-off, fell to Sheth in the 42nd over. Karthik had come forward to charge the seamer, but the ball swung in and hit the top of off-stump.<br /><br />With Tamil Nadu needing 37 to win, offie Washington Sundar, who had taken 2-20 in the morning, replaced Karthik. The left-handed batsman took his time before opening his arms for two sixes off Soaeb Tai. Alongwith Shankar, he provided the finishing touches.<br /><br />Earlier, Baroda openers Kedar Devdhar and Aditya Waghmode mustered 92 runs. Krunal Pandya pushed the scoring with a 39-ball 30 after Deepak Hooda was bowled by Washington for a duck. With strokeplay difficult in the conditions and Tamil Nadu superb in the outfield, Yusuf Pathan struggled for timing and the pressure was on Pandya to push the scoring.<br /><br />However, left-arm spinner Rahil Shah removed both Pandya and Yusuf Pathan off successive deliveries to increase Baroda's woes. Pandya was caught superbly by M Mohammad who ran to his right before diving to take the catch. Pathan’s lofted attempt was undone by Aswin Crist who took another good catch at mid-on.<br /><br />Pinal Shah (36) stitched 44 runs with captain Irfan Pathan for the sixth wicket and 30 more with Swapnil Singh to help cross the 200-run mark, but against the quality of Tamil Nadu, Baroda ended up posing a light challenge.<br />DH News Service<br /><br />Brief scores: Baroda: 219 all out in 49.3 overs (Kedar Devdhar 46, Aditya Waghmode 45, Pinal Shah 36; Aswin Crist 2-22, Rahil Shah 2-36, Washington Sundar 2-20, R Sai Kishore 4-59) lt to Tamil Nadu: 220/4 in 47.3 overs (Baba Aparajith 28, Dinesh Karthik 77, Vijay Shankar 53, Atit Sheth 3-36).</p>
