Red-hot Saurashtra flex batting muscle again
Ahir was particularly impressive, hitting his second straight T20 half-century in just his third game. Desai, too, carried on from where he left off against Baroda (where he made a 39-ball 76). Tamil Nadu were at no stage up to challenging the target as they finished 64 short with Chirag Jani and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja among the wickets.
It was a fourth defeat in six games for Tamil Nadu, who won the championship in successive seasons, 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Dube returns in style; Shardul redeems himself
Dube, who has been out of action for the past three months following a back injury, made an impact upon his return straightaway. He top-scored with a 37-ball 71 that was the cornerstone to Mumbai’s 192 for 4. Dube put on 130 for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar, who made 70 off 46.
But there was redemption for Thakur, another Mumbai player – like Shaw – who went unsold at the latest IPL auction. A week after returning the most expensive figures in SMA Trophy history, Thakur finished with an impressive 4 for 25 off his four overs to help Mumbai defend their total.
Andhra dent Kerala’s knockout hopes