Nair, Nalkande star in Vid’s win

 

 

 

Vidarbha batter Karun Nair hit a timely half century while pacer Darshan Nalkande took three crucial wickets as Vidarbha started their Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT) on a winning note on Saturday in Vizag. On the eve of mega IPL Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when IPL team owners were watching SMAT closely, Nair slammed 77 runs in 39 deliveries at a strike rate of 197.44 as Vidarbha posted a huge 216 for six against Odisha. Vidarbha’s

 

 

Nalkande then took three wickets as they won the match by 33 runs. Nair’s authorative knock was laced with seven boundaries and four huge sixes under lights. Another hard-hitter Shubham Dubey freed his arms hitting 30 from 14 balls with four boundaries and a maximum while captain Jitesh Sharma remained unbeaten on 27 with three huge sixes and a boundary from nine deliveries. Parth Rekhade was also among runs with 24-ball 39 (4x1, 6x4), He and Nair also stitched an important 64 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. Defending the total, Vidarbha pacer Darshan Nalkande snared three wickets as Odisha were bowled out for 183 from 19.1 overs after they started bravely with 80 runs opening wicket stand in 46 deliveries. Swastik Samal hit 63 while Gaurav Chaudhary added 37. Rekhade took two wickets while Umesh Yadav, Harsh Dubey, Yash Thakur, Atharv Taide and mandar Mahale one each. Vidarbha next plays Chandigarh on Monday.