Dubey fashions Vid’s big win

 

 

YOUNG Harsh Dubey is fast gaining a reputation of being a dependable all-rounder. The southpaw excelled with both bat and ball to guide Vidarbha to a comfortable 90-run win over Rajasthan in the Men’s U-25 State A Trophy one-dayers at Railway Cricket Ground, Rajkot on Tuesday.

Dubey’s (66*; 52b, 6x4, 2x6) unbeaten half century lifted Vidarbha to 268-7. Later, he (7.3-0-24-2) took two crucial wickets to derail Rajasthan who were shot out for 178 in 43.3 overs.

Put into bat, Vidarbha were given a decent start as the top three got good starts. Aniruddha Choudhari (37; 42b, 5x4, 1x6), Aman Mokhade (42; 68b, 5x4) and Yash Rathod (37; 42b, 2x4, 1x6). Wickets fell in a heap in middle overs and Vidarbha were 165-5 in 35.1 overs. Dubey and Yash Kadam (37; 49b, 4x4) played well ensuring a fighting total on the board. Shanmesh (1-20) gave Vidarbha an early wicket but the duo of D Gajraj (27) and R Sharma (34) took the total from 17 to 70. Dubey got rid of both of them. Seamer Praful Hinge (9-0-51-3), skipper Mandar Mahalle (4-0-17-2) and some good ground fielding helped them bowl the opponents out in the 44th over.

With four wins from six games, Vidarbha are at the third spot with 16 points same as fourth-placed Chhattisgarh but with a better net run rate. Jammu and Kashmir are at second place with 20 points while Mumbai have already qualified with 24 points. Vidarbha, J&K and Chhattisgarh will have to fight for that second place to make it to the knock-outs.

Vidarbha will have to beat Chhattisgarh in their last game and at the same time hope that J&K go down in their final game. Vidarbha had lost to the north Indian side in the league and that might well go against them in the head to head count.