Karnataka fall short despite Mithun heroics

Royal Challengers Bangalore speedster Abhimanyu Mithun shone before Baroda defeated Karnataka in a super over decider in the first preliminary quarter final clash of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.

Put in to bat first, Karnataka managed to post 167/6 with contributions from Bharat Chipli (60), Stuart Binny (35) and a cameo from Royal Challengers Bangalore bowler Rajoo Bhatkal (17*).

Mithun removed Baroda opener Kedar Devdhar for a duck in the first over of their innings and teamed up with KP Appanna to dismiss no. 3 Monil Patel in his second, reducing them to 17/2. Regular wickets fell but opener Aditya Waghmode contributed 52 as Baroda kept their chase just alive.

Baroda’s 9th wicket, Bhargav Bhatt fell to Mithun in the 18th over but Murtuja Vahora (45* off 21b) took them right to the end in the company of Munaf Patel and Baroda finished on 167/9 in their 20 overs.

KP Appanna finished with 1/33 while Abhimanyu Mithun finished with 3/34 in his quota and was selected to bowl the super over for Karnataka.

Yusuf Pathan who flopped in Baroda’s innings having made just 9 slammed 22 in the super over with Ambati Rayudu.

Murtuja Vahora returned to bowl the super over for Baroda and was successful, sending back Bharat Chipli off the first ball and keeping the duo of Uthappa and Manish Pandey down to just 7 runs.

The loss meant that Karnataka were knocked out of the domestic T20 tournament while Baroda advanced to the third quarterfinal against defending champions Bengal at Mumbai on Sunday.