Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Ruturaj Gaikwad hit a 68-ball 114 for Maharashtra in their 40-run win over Kerala on Tuesday. It was the Chennai Super Kings opener’s second hundred in the ongoing tournament.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 18, 2022 20:13 IST
Rutuaj Gaikwad hit a match-winning 114 for Maharashtra vs Kerala (PTI Photo)
By India Today Web Desk: Ruturaj Gaikwad may have missed an opportunity to seal a T20 World Cup berth for India but the Chennai Super Kings batter is showing signs of a return to peak form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. On Tuesday, Ruturaj was at his elegant best as he hit a stunning 114 to help Maharashtra beat Kerala in an Elite Group C match in Mullanpur, Punjab.
Ruturaj Gaikwad hit 7 sixes and 8 boundaries as he smashed 114 in just 68 balls to single-handedly help Maharashtra post 167 for 4 on the board in their quota of 20 overs. Ruturaj took the attack to the Kerala bowlers from the word go and did not take his foot off the pedal in a classy knock. Ruturaj got out only in the last ball of the Maharashtra innings and did all the damage before he was stopped.
It was Ruturaj’s second hundred in 4 matches in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament. Ruturaj had hit a 65-ball 112 for Maharahstra against Services in Mohali on October 12.
It’s a welcome sign for the CSK opener who went through a lean patch in international cricket. Ruturaj managed just 100 runs in 7 matches at an average of 16.66 in T20I cricket for India, failing to put up his hand for a spot in the T20 World Cup squad. He also managed just 19 runs in the only ODI he played against South Africa in a recently-concluded 3-match series at home.
In reply, Kerala could manage 127 for eight in their stipulated 20 overs, with Rohan Kunnummal top-scoring with a 44-ball 58 at the top.
For Maharashtra, Satyajeet Bachhav (3/11) and Azim Kazi (2/25) took three and two wickets respectively, while Rajvardhan Hangargekar (1/16) and Shamshuzama Kazi (1/8) accounted for one each.
KARNATAKA DECIMATE ARUNACHAL
Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up Karnataka hammered Arunachal Pradesh by 10 wickets. Karnataka rode on a fine display of bowling from Vidhwath Kaverappa (3/22) and V Koushik (3/5). Karnataka chased down a 76-run target in just 6.5 overs on Tuesday.
Chasing the total, skipper Mayank Agarwal smashed 47 not out in 21 balls, while his opening partner Devdutt Padikkal made an unbeaten 20-ball 28.
Karnataka are leading the group C points table with 16 points from five matches, followed by Haryana and Services.
BRIEF SCORES
Maharashtra 167-4 in 20 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 114; Sijomon 3/18) beat Kerala 128-8 in 20 overs (Rohan Kunnummal 58; Satyajeet Bachhav 3/11) by 40 runs.
Arunachal Pradesh 75 allout in 19.2 overs (Rohan Sharma 18; V Koushik 3/5, Vidhwath Kaverappa 3/22) lose by 10 wickets to Karnataka 76 in 6.5 overs (Mayank Agarwal 47 not out; Akhilesh Sahani 0/14)
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