Bengaluru, Dec 11 (UNI) Baroda secured a commanding 41-run victory over Bengal to storm into the semifinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. with left-arm pacer Lukman Meriwala and allrounder Hardik Pandya delivering match-winning performances.
It was a tale of two birthday boys, Baroda’s Meriwala shone with a fiery opening spell, claiming three wickets in a single over, while Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed showcased resilience with a valiant half-century.
Despite Shahbaz’s efforts, Bengal’s chase of 173 fell short as they were bundled out for 131.
Bengal began steadily, reaching 28 runs in three overs, but Meriwala turned the tide with a dream over. He dismissed Karan Lal (6) and Sudip Kumar Gharami (2) in consecutive deliveries and took a brilliant return catch to send back Writtick Chatterjee for a duck, reducing Bengal to 31 for 4.
Shahbaz Ahmed walked in at No. 6 and counterattacked with Ritwik Roy Chowdhury. The duo added quick runs, hitting boundaries and sixes to revive Bengal’s hopes.
Shahbaz particularly impressed with his aggressive stroke play, smashing 55 off 36 balls, including three fours and four sixes. However, Hardik Pandya’s timely strike in the 10th over removed Chowdhury (22), leaving Bengal at 88 for 5 and Shahbaz with too much ground to cover.
Earlier, Baroda set the tone with a solid start from openers Shashwat Rawat (40) and Abhimanyusingh Rajput (37). The pair added 90 runs for the first wicket, accelerating after a cautious start on a slow pitch. Rajput rode his luck, surviving a dropped catch and an umpire’s call on a review.
Handy contributions from Shivalik Sharma (24), Bhanu Pania (17), and Vishnu Solanki (16*) ensured Baroda posted a challenging total of 172, with 51 runs coming in the final four overs.
Despite Shahbaz’s spirited knock, Bengal lacked partnerships, and Baroda’s disciplined bowling—led by Meriwala’s 3 for 17 and Hardik’s 3 for 27—sealed the victory.
With this win, Baroda advanced to the semi-finals, showcasing their depth and versatility in a high-stakes contest.
