Rampant Rahane shines as Mumbai face MP in final

NT Bengaluru

Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer made light work of a modest target of 159 set by Baroda in the semifinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. Winning the toss proved pivotal for Mumbai skipper Rahane, who opted to bowl first. Scoring appeared challenging for Baroda, given the overcast conditions and the looming threat of rain. The only brief respite for the batting side was the boundary line being brought in. Baroda captain Krunal Pandya (30) and southpaw Shivalik Sharma (36*) built a steady 50-run partnership. However, in-form all-rounder Suryansh Shedge turned the tide, dismissing Pandya with his very first ball, a faint edge carrying to the keeper. Baroda's innings faltered from there.

Except for Sharma, contributions from Hardik Pandya, Vishnu Solanki, and Atith Seth were minimal, leading to a below-par total of 158/7. Mumbai, fresh from chasing the highest total in the tournament’s history, showcased their scorching form yet again. Seasoned opener Ajinkya Rahane followed a familiar approach attacking the bowlers relentlessly and keeping them under pressure. His 98 off 56 balls at a strike rate of 175 came as a statement performance after being signed by Kolkata Knight Riders. “I’m really happy with the way I’m batting,” Rahane said after narrowly missing a century.

Reflecting on his recent success, Rahane attributed it to changes over the last two years that allowed him to “express himself more.” “The format has evolved very fast, and it’s all about going with the flow,” he added. Shreyas Iyer complemented Rahane with some elegant shotmaking, though he fell short of a half-century.

Patidar powershow for MP sets up mouthwatering final

Rajat Patidar showcased exactly why his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), had retained him, as he played a brutal knock in Madhya Pradesh’s seven-wicket win over Delhi in the semi-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Friday. MP will face Mumbai in the final on Sunday, December 15. Opting to bowl first, MP ensured that Delhi’s danger man, Priyansh Arya, couldn’t get off to a good start. Kumar Kartikeya claimed the breakthrough, but credit goes to Venkatesh Iyer, who took key wickets of Delhi captain Ayush Badoni and the in-form Himmat Singh.

Despite Anuj Rawat and Mayank Rawat’s efforts, Delhi could not build momentum, finishing with only 146/5. MP’s chase also got off to a rocky start. Ishant Sharma rolled back the years with brilliant swing bowling, dismissing opener Arpit Gaud and Subranshu Senapathi during the powerplay. It was the partnership between Harpreet Singh and Patidar that steadied the innings. Patidar’s handling of spin was exemplary, raising the intensity in the 12th over. He finished his knock with an explosive 66 off 29 balls, including six sixes. Patidar also recorded one of the highest strike rates of the year, ending with a remarkable 227.58.

Brief scores: MP 152/3 (R. Patidar 66*, H. Singh 46; I. Sharma 2/12) bt. Delhi 146/5 (A. Rawat 33*; V. Iyer 2/12) by 7 wickets.