Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Mumbai win big, but failed to make it to knockouts | Cricket News

MUMBAI: Mumbai recorded a devastating 82-run win over Baroda but were still denied a ticket to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarter-finals in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Driven by birthday boy Prithvi Shaw 83 (63b, 4×6, 6×4), skipper Ajinkya Rahane (71, 45b, 2×6, 8×4), who cracked his fourth fifty in five games, and off-spinner Tanush Kotian (4-16 in four overs) ) Mumbai scored a devastating 82-run win over Baroda that morning. However, their hopes of making it to the round of 16 were dashed in the afternoon when Karnataka, who had previously won four of four games, lost to Bengal with seven wickets. Both Karnataka and Bengal made the cut from Elite Group B, while Mumbai licked their wounds after three wins and two losses.
This is the second straight season that Mumbai have been eliminated in the league stage of Mushtaq Ali – a T20 tournament they have never won.
After Mumbai was used by Baroda, star opener Shaw celebrated his 22nd with 286 runs in five games @ 57.20 and a strike rate of 133.64, Rahane is 71, 75, 54, 17 and 69 is currently the top run getter in the league phase of the tournament. India’s test runner-up will now go into the home test series against New Zealand much more confidently. After a miserable time in the test series in England, where he managed only 109 runs in four games at 15.57, the 33-year-old’s place on the Indian test team seemed to be in danger. Many found it surprising that he was named Mumbai captain for that T20 event ahead of Shaw, who led Mumbai to the Vijay Hazare title earlier this year. Rahane’s consistent show in Guwahati, however, has confirmed the confidence of Mumbai voters in him.
“He’s spoken to his bat and proved everyone was wrong. He’s a fabulous batsman. He struck Ali like royalty in the league phase of Mushtaq Ali. Unfortunately, he has been labeled as someone who isn’t a T20 batsman and runs for us “Look at his strike rate. That label should be removed from his name,” Mumbai Chief Returning Officer Salil Ankola told TOI.
“Ajinkya, who plays these games, is also a good learning experience for the youth on the team. For someone who has played 78 tests and is India’s vice-captain, he plays with the same dedication, dedication and intensity to learn local cricket from it,” praised Ankola.
In a bold decision, Mumbai dropped former captain and seasoned wicketkeeper Aditya Tare and replaced him with Hardik Tamore. Her innovative tactic of opening up bowling with part-time off-spinner Siddhesh Lad continued to pay off as he missed just 12 runs in three overs and won the first wicket, that of veteran Kedar Devdhar (5).
Short notes: Mumbai 193-2 in 20 overs (Prithvi Shaw 83, Ajinkya Rahane 71) beat Baroda 111-9 in 20 overs (Tanush Kotian 4-16) with 82 runs.