Gujarat humble Bengal, make quarters at Vijay Hazare Trophy

CHENNAI: Gujarat, riding their skipper Parthiv Patel's 82-ball 88, registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over Bengal in their Group C Vijay Hazare Trophy at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Monday. The win meant Gujarat qualified for the knockout stages of the competition - along with Bengal -despite finishing on the same points as Mumbai. Gujarat, in pursuit of 169, had to get home in 41.2 overs to overhaul Mumbai's net run-rate (NRR) and they did so with 132 balls to spare.
Parthiv, the lead architect in Gujarat's chase, received a life on 4 when Ashoke Dinda had him caught by Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary at first slip off a no-ball.Parthiv took full advantage of that error and sent the Bengal bowling to all parts of the ground. He added 69 for the opening wicket stand with Priyank Panchal (20, 1x4) in 12 overs to set the tone of the chase. Once Panchal departed - stumped by Sreevats Goswami off offie Aamir Gani (1-41) - Parthiv added 30 with Samit Gohel (15, 3x4) in the next 4.2 overs to take the team total to 99.
In the company of Bhargav Merai (24 n.o., 2x4), Parthiv then stitched 68 in 10.4 overs before the latter was run-out with Gujarat just 2 away from victory. Parthiv never allowed the Bengal bowlers a breather, and was severe on any loose deliveries which were on offer. The match also saw the return of Mohammed Shami (0-36) to competitive cricket after suffering a knee injury during the England series last year and subsequently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat won the toss and inserted Bengal in. Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (37, 5x4) yet again looked in good touch, cutting and timing the ball with ease. Abhimanyu - with 364 runs in the tournament from 6 outings - showed the application needed to score runs on a wicket where others in Bengal top-order faltered. But once Abhimanyu departed - cleaned up by left-arm spinner Ashav Panchal (2-27) - Bengal's ship began to sink.
They lost wickets at regular intervals and soon found themselves at 67 for 5 in the 26th over before their innings saw a revival. The lower-order comprising Aamir Gani (37, 3x4), Mohammed Shami (19, 2x4, 1x6) and Ashoke Dinda (33, 4x4, 1x6) entertained the sparse crowd with some lusty hits to take the total past the 150-run mark. For Gujarat, pacer Jasprit Bumrah (3-27) was the standout performer and received good support from Ashav and offie Rujul Bhatt (2-26).
Brief scores: Bengal 168 in 49.1 ovs (A Easwaran 37, A Gani 37; J Bumrah 3/27). Gujarat 172/3 in 28.0 ovs (Parthiv Patel 88). Gujarat won by 7 wkts