SMAT | Hyderabad thumps Bihar for fifth win, boosts knockout chances

Left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajann’s three-wicket haul and opener Tanmay Agarwal’s fine unbeaten half-century fashioned table-topper Hyderabad’s thumping seven-wicket win over Bihar in a Group-B match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Jadavpur University ground here on Saturday.

Choosing to bat, Bihar could manage only 132 for eight. Hyderabad romped home with more than seven overs to spare to post its fifth victory and brighten its chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Hyderabad bowlers’ discipline denied Bihar batters any freebies. The consistent pressure earned them wickets too.

Tanay bowled promising teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi (11) with a faster delivery in the fifth over and captain C.V. Milind removed Sakibul Gani in the following over to keep Bihar in check in the PowerPlay.

Switching ends, Tanay varied his length beautifully to castle Ayush Loharuka and trap Suraj Kashyap leg-before off successive balls of the 12th over and stifle Bihar further.

Piyush Singh (34, 30b, 3×4) batted with determination before being bowled by Rakshann Readdi.

Bipin Saurabh’s cameo (31, 19b, 1×4, 3×6), including three massive sixes on the onside off Rakshann in the final over, redeemed some pride for Bihar.

Hyderabad was hardly stretched in the run chase.

Tanmay (67 n.o., 42b, 11×4, 1×6) grabbed the opportunity to score his first fifty of the tournament. The attacking left-hander had failed to convert some good starts.

Tanmay hammered four boundaries off Amod Ydav in the fourth over to make his intentions clear.

Tamnay, who excelled with his timing and placement and got a majority of his fours on the off-side and a big six on the leg-side, added 37 runs with Nitesh Kumar and 48 with Pragnay Readdy (29, 15b, 3×4, 2×6). He stayed on after Pragnay’s run out, off a direct throw from the deep, to guide Hyderabad home.

Madhya Pradesh rode on Arshad Khan’s career-best figures of six for nine and Harsh Gawali’s knock (74 n.o., 40b, 6×4, 5×6) to trounce Chandigarh by seven wickets and post its fourth win.

Subham Tari’s three wickets and Kashyap Bakhale and Suyash Prabhudesai’s fifties powered Goa past Jammu and Kashmir by seven wickets for its fourth victory.

The scores: At Eden Gardens: Jammu and Kashmir 161/7 in 20 overs (Shubham Khajuria 45, Yawer Hassan 48, Kawal Preet Singh 30, Shubham Tari 3/30) lost to Goa 167/3 in 19 overs (Kashyap Bakle 59, Suyash Prabhudesai 51 n.o.).

At Jadavpur University ground: Chandigarh 134/8 in 20 overs (Manan Vohra 52, Sanyam Saini 33, Arshad Khan 6/9) lost to Madhya Pradesh 135/3 in 14 overs (Harsh Gawali 74 n.o., Harpreet Singh Bhatia 48).

Bihar 132/8 in 20 overs (Piyush Kumar Singh 34, Bipin Saurabh 31 n.o., Tanay Thyagarajann 3/21) lost to Hyderabad 134/3 in 12.5 overs (Tanmay Agarwal 67 n.o.).