Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Unmukt and Bhati star in Delhi’s big win

Kerala goes past Jammu & Kashmir, while Jharkhand too has it easy against Nagaland.

Jharkhand's Kumar Deobrat top-scored against Nagalad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 in Vijaywada on Wednesday.

Opener Unmukt Chand’s stroke-filled knock (70, 35b, 4x4, 6x6) and an impressive spell by medium-pacer Subodh Bhati (four for 27), Delhi recorded a 32-run win over Andhra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T-20 cricket championship league match at Mulapadu Cricket Complex here on Wednesday.

Electing to bat, Delhi lost opener Hiten Dalal (0) to pacer Ayyappa Bandaru in the first over before Unmukt and Dhruv Shorey (28, 21b, 3 x 4, 1 x 6) put on 74 runs for the second wicket to keep Andhra bowlers at bay.

Later on, Lalit Yadav (31, 19b, 1 x 4, 2 x 6) propped the total with a breezy knock.

In reply, once pacer Ishant Sharma forced Andhra captain Hanuma Vihari to snick to wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat in the first over, Andhra was never really in the hunt losing wickets at regular intervals. The only notable contribution came from Ashwin Hebbar (38, 29b, 1x4, 1x6).

This was Delhi’s fourth win in five games while, Andhra suffered third defeat in four matches.

In another match, Kerala scored an emphatic, 94-run win over Jammu & Kashmir for its third win in four matches.

Jharkhand notched up it’s fourth consecutive win when it defeated Nagaland by 54 runs.

Captain Ishan Kishan (52, 39b, 6x4, 2x6) and Kumar Deobrat (69 not out, 32b, 5x4, 6x6) scored breezy half-centuries and Anukul Roy chipped with a quick fire unbeaten 47 (23b, 4x4, 3x6) during a 57-run stand in 52 balls with Ishan to help Delhi post 175 for eight.

The scores Delhi 175 for eight in 20 overs (Unmukt Chand 70, Lalit Yadav 31) beats Andhra 143 in 19.3 overs (Ashwin Hebbar 38, Subodh Bhati four for 27). Kerala 159 for seven in 20 overs (Vinoop Sheela Manoharan 52, Mohammed Azharuddeen 32) beats J & K 65 in 14.2 overs (S. Midhun three for nine). Jharkhand 197 for three in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 52, Kumar Deobrat 69 not out, Anukul Roy 47 not out) beats Nagaland 143 for three in 20 overs (A.J. Kaushik 31, Sedezhalie 38, R. Jonathan 47).